For Mama, the earlier events of the day, with the talk of abortion, signaled a low point for her family. Instant PDF downloads. sophisticated girl. Mama comes in as Beneatha kicks him out. To say that A Raisin in the Sun has a lot of allusions is an understatement. nationalist movement She also prides herself on the fact that the family will own its home, however humble it may be. A Raisin in the Sun: Act 2, Scene 2 Summary & Analysis Next Act 2, Scene 3 Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis On a Friday night a few weeks later, George and Beneatha enter the apartment after a date. Ruth cannot contain her happiness at the thought of their finally being able to move out of the overcrowded apartment. Purchasing He feels that his job is no better than a slaves job. Beneathas statement that equates Mrs. Johnson and the KKK show the extent to which she believes assimilationist ideology is a scourge on the African-American community. She predicts that the Youngers will also be scared out of the all-white neighborhood once they move in and insults much of the family by calling them a proud-acting bunch of colored folks. She then quotes Booker T. Washington, a famous Black thinker and assimilationist. the nature of quiet desperation The complete quotation to which George refers is "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation," a line from Thoreau's Walden. Menelik II initiated the modern age of Ethiopian development by defeating the Italians, who were trying to establish a protectorate over Ethiopia. Complete your free account to request a guide. Le petit Prince Chapitre 7 et 8 questions and answers, TeacherS Guide and Answer KEY for WheelockS Latin, I. A frustrated and angered Mama retaliates by calling him a fool. Mrs. Johnson leaves the apartment. simple . streetcar, Act 2, Scene 1 Mamas explains that her choice of neighborhood was financial, but, as evidenced by her reluctance to sharing this detail with Ruth and Walter, she clearly has some concerns about the situation. In addition, this scene illustrates how difficult it is to be Walter Lee Younger without being bitter. Mrs. Johnson views the Youngers pride as a negative quality, one that mistakenly allows them to see themselves as exceptional. pots. It's also worth noting that he dreams of sending his son to college, though he mocks Beneatha's ambitions to get an education. But, of all the superior works of art that came out of Africa, the most remarkable were those found in Benin. (including. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Historical Context Essay: A Raisin in the Sun on the Brink of the 1960s, Literary Context Essay: Hansberry, Langston Hughes, & the Harlem Renaissance. Ace your assignments with our guide to A Raisin in the Sun! LitCharts Teacher Editions. A Raisin in The Sun Forbidden Fruit Biblical Allusions Turn the other cheek The phrase "turn the other cheek" is taught in the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5:38-59. Lorraine Hansberry took the title of A Raisin in the Sun from a line in Langston Hughes's famous 1951 poem "Harlem: A Dream Deferred.". Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Central Idea Essay: Why Does Mama Want to Own Property? You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. It means that Asagai is proposing to Beneatha, Beneatha tells Walter Lee he is a prophet leading them out of the wilderness. Georges admission that his interest in Beneatha is only skin-deepthat he likes her looks but doesn't care about her thoughtsflies in the face of Beneathas personal pride and sense of self. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% George is pedantic an academic show-off constantly making literary allusions even when he knows that this information is lost upon his audience. Beneatha believes that society must be changed through self-knowledge and, thus, through consciousness and celebration of ones heritage. George and his family, however, believe that they should become wealthy and perhaps achieve respect through their economic status, which demands a certain degree of assimilation into the dominant, white culture. He suggested that blacks devote themselves to agriculture, mechanics, domestic service, and the professions placing more value on acquiring an industrial skill than on attaining a seat in Congress. This scene separates George and Asagai into completely different categories where George, as his common name suggests, represents a Black person assimilating into the white world, while Asagai, with his ethnically rich name, stands for the New Africanist culture that those who oppose assimilation pursue. A+ Student Essay: The Role of Money in the Play, Lorraine Hansberry and A Raisin in the Sun Background. Answers: 1. How does Walter plan to use the insurance money? The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Beneatha believes in education as a means to understanding and self-fulfillment, while George sees education as a means to get a good job. intellectual point of view but that she does, lead lives of quiet desperation." Washington's long-time opponent, W. E. B. Walter believes that the insurance money Mama gives him can provide him with financial success and educational resources for his son, a priority he values more highly than his sisters goal of becoming a doctor. and any corresponding bookmarks? The radical nature of the Youngers desire to participate in the American dream does bring along some hardship. He implies in his speech that men do not like aggressive, independent, liberated women, and that if she ever hopes to get married and have a family, she is going to have to "drop the Garbo routine," meaning she will have to stop studying and thinking so much, and start acting "like a [submissive] woman.". bookmarked pages associated with this title. George is pedantic, showing off his knowledge, when he says to Walter (after he is safely half-out the door), "Good night, Prometheus.". Timbuktu, once the center of learning, became a tiny desert town, important only because of its history. Summary and Analysis of the Chicago Tribune newspaper; As was evident during her conversation with Mrs. Johnson, Mama realizes that her denial of Walters dream has only added to the many limitations that already curb Walters opportunities for advancement. The Youngers apartment is full of moving boxes. George does not seem interested. As I read through A Raisin in the Sun again, I found a decent amount of allusions to the Bible. Benin's theocracy dictated the production of art for religious purposes. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. for a customized plan. domination of a white man without After the death of her husband, Mama Younger receives a $10,000 life insurance. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Mama comes home and announces that she has put a down payment on a house with some of the insurance money. SparkNotes PLUS Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. (One of Washington's first staff appointments was Dr. George Washington Carver, whose brilliance in the field of agriculture is not as well documented as his "peanut" discoveries.) Georges reference to Prometheus, a Greek demigod who stole fire from Zeus, is intended to mock Walters grand business dreams and also to draw attention to Georges own knowledge (George is putting himself in the position of being the God). Walter, however, is crushed by Mama's news; to him, Mama has "butchered his dream.". The lion is waking This phrase refers to all of the African countries that were beginning to demand their independence of colonial rule. Hansberry's description of Walter as he chants to the African music with Beneatha includes a reference to Shaka Zulu, or Chaka: "On the table, very far gone, his eyes pure glass sheets. Instant PDF downloads. Mrs. Johnsonthe Youngers neighborvisits. But when the British stormed the city, they were so impressed by the Benin bronzes that they took them back with them, giving the British Museum an incomparable collection of rare treasures of African art. Butterfly than a Nigerian; the allusion Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Clearly, Hansherry uses her own family's livelihood as being the livelihood of the rich black family in Raisin. Finally, in this scene, Hansberry makes an emphatic statement about integration. Contact us Asked by kim l #385799. Her pregnancy is no longer a burden, but instead signifies hope and expectation. This scene portrays both George Murchison and Booker T. Washington as assimilationists, and Mama refers to them both as fools. While Mama calls George a fool only in response to Beneathas remark, her branding of Booker T. Washington with such an insult has profound historical and cultural implications. ? [Y]our daddys gonna make a . "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." 20% It means that George thinks Walter Lee is trying to take money from the rich, superior people to share it with the poor, inferior ones. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. The person whom Walter Lee describes as having a "conked head" is a part of the entertainment world; he is a musician at the Green Hat, a bar that Walter Lee frequents. Removing #book# Additionally, the story of the bombing draws attention to the very real dangers that accompany the familys move and the violent extent of Northern racism. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Bantu The Bantu language is the tongue common to the peoples of Africa who live below the equator. George and Beneatha finally leave, and Ruth and Walter then begin to fight about Walter going out, spending money, and interacting with people like Willy Harris. With this money, Mama says, Walter should becomeand should act like he has becomethe head of the family. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Du Bois (1868-1963), was a man who dramatically espoused the opposite of Washington's philosophy. some Middle Eastern traders settled there, Ethiopian history cites Queen Makeda of Ethiopia and King Solomon as being the parents of Menelik I who, during his reign, founded the kingdom of Ethiopia in 10 B.C. It's not education he doesn't believe init's education for women. Please wait while we process your payment. Act I Scene 2, Next BENEATHA (Emerging grandly from the doorway so that that big hotel on the Drive Walter refers to "that big hotel on the Drive" in a conversation with George Murchison as he asks George about the Murchison family's prospective real estate ventures. This alludes to the slaves brought here from Africa. This shows that her desire to get an abortion was entirely the product of the family's poverty, not a personal choice. Note that Asagai calmly accepts whatever his fate might be and even becomes an inadvertent peacemaker when he diffuses Beneatha's vitriolic reaction to Walter's loss of the family's money. Students also viewed Symbolism in The Namesake My Sister's Keeper Book Project Georges cynical response about the purpose of schooling, that it's really just a game to get the piece of paper that helps you go out in the world and make moneyruns counter to Beneathas idealistic belief in the transformative power of education. The "Mrs. Johnson" character brings laughter to the scene, for she is a comical figure, but she also expresses sentiments that have always been prevalent in the black community. from your Reading List will also remove any Many times though, men within the criminal element in the black community also wore their hair in this "conked" style when the style became a symbol of affluence. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. At this point, we should note that although Hansberry lauds the Ashanti empires specifically and speaks highly of the art of Benin through the dialogue of her character, Beneatha, Hansberry, herself, in other essays, refers specifically to the Ashanti as "those murderous, slave trading Ashanti." After Mrs. Johnson leaves and Mama learns that Walter has not been to work in three days, she feels responsible for his despair ("I been doing to you what the rest of the world been doing to you"), so responsible, in fact, that she gives him $6500, all that's left of the insurance check after her downpayment of $3500 on the Clybourne Park house, so that he can feel that he is the "man of the house." Georges obsessions seem similarhaving achieved wealth, he sees it as justifying his own sense of superiority. He was crowned Emperor in 1930. Later that Saturday, dressed in her new Nigerian robes and headdress, Beneatha dances to African music while simultaneously giving Ruth an impromptu lesson in its significance. Dont have an account? Ruth and Mama are shocked by Mrs. Johnsons shameless comments, which run counter to the Youngers deep sense of dignity. creating and saving your own notes as you read. If those men were not a part of the entertainment industry, they were either denizens of the underworld or full-fledged or potential gangsters. Hansberry creates a radical character in Beneatha, one who does not willingly submit to what she calls oppressive white culture. Central Idea Essay: Why Does Mama Want to Own Property? Act II Scene 2. allusions in order to supply the reader with historical background. Taking a defensive stance, Walter describes himself as a volcano in an attempt to fortify his male identity. Walter has lost all hope and motivation, completely abandoning his duties as a husband and father. . black people, Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Mama tells Walter that the house will be a new beginning, a unifying force that can repair the familys bonds. segregation, and to work for the Hansberry, herself, speaks through Mama, who dismisses Washington as a "fool." These allusions reference the outside world, but also give emphasis on the importance of the piece of the text references. The Youngers are a family of dreamers who strongly desire upward mobility and improved life circumstances. The first Songhai king, Sunni Ali, destroyed much of Timbuktu, but his successor, Askia, rebuilt this ancient city of learning. Walter, whether consciously or not, is acting as if his and his sons interests are more important than Beneathas, even though Beneatha has proven she is intellectually capable. Mama takes immense pride in the realization of her and Big Walters deferred dream. Complete your free account to request a guide. Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther, the film Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. For Mama, ownership of the house symbolizes personal freedom as well. Queen Makeda was so impressed with the wisdom of King Solomon that she visited him in Jerusalem, adopted his religion of Judaism and, upon the birth of their first child, who was a male, she crowned this child King of Ethiopia, an act which united the two nations. The Man / Capn Boss / Mistuh Charley The way the content is organized, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. It seems that George wants to marry a nice . In light of their differences, generational and otherwise, Beneatha is touched by Mamas ability to understand her point of view. This alludes to Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor who tried to take over Europe. (one code per order). -Graham S. At this point, Mrs. Johnson has clearly overstayed her welcome and appears to derive pleasure from filling the Younger household with fear. T he poem's title is an allusion to Langston Hughes' poem "Harlem," which asks, "What happens to a dream deferred?" The . She seems to resent their desire to escape from the place where she herself lives. He gets into a heated debate with her over the history and heritage of black people, all of which he belittles as insignificant, and then he antagonizes Walter by dismissing Walter's attempts to discuss his "big" business plans with him. After George's exit, Walter Lee and Ruth reminisce about their early days together and contrast their early dreams and warm feelings for one another, compared to now, when they seem to be slipping away from one another. Previous About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Hughes was a prominent Black poet during the 1920s Harlem Renaissance in New York City, during which Black artists of all kindsmusicians, poets, writersgave innovative voices to their personal and . Using their new weapons to fight their rulers, they eventually created their own kingdoms in the coastal forests of West Africa, the most powerful of which was that of Benin (present-day Nigeria). Gone With the Wind. Meanwhile, Walter is noticeably upset because he wants to put all the money into the liquor store venture. She feels she needs to buy the house to hold the family together. (Tapping his head and half. NAACP: the National Association for the Opines that home alone ii and rapid fire were my only qualms about the play. the actors are excellent. Impact- Beneatha is saying that if she How does Walter plan to use the insurance money? Ruth is apprehensive, almost frightened, when she hears that the new house is located in the all-white neighborhood of Clybourne Park. Recommends a raisin in the sun for its lighthearted view of a very serious situation. Means that you should forgive and forget about it when someone disappoints you. An opportunity for the family to escape the poverty comes when the family receive an 10,000 insurance check. especially in the South, directed against Refine any search. Though Georges wealth and bearing impress Mama at first, she eventually shares Beneathas point of view. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Alludes to Greek mythology when Prometheus took fire from the gods and shared it with people. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is about living the "American Dream". Mama asks for their understandingit was the only house that they could afford. Mrs. Johnsons imagined headline gives voice to the Youngers own worst fears about the outcome of their move, and also imply that Mrs. Johnson doesn't want to see the Youngers thrive or do well in a way she herself isn't. They are fair game and Chaka: he became chief of the Zulu clan Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. A critical reading of A Raisin in the Sun offers students many opportunities to evaluate the shifting . Continue to start your free trial. Murchison, on the other hand, knows nothing of his African past, despises the little he knows of his heritage, and, therefore, hates himself. Mr. Linder is "quiet-looking". touched by World War II. The play "A Raisin in The Sun" by Loraine Hansberry is about an African-American family living in Chicago. Comparing sizes. And after a little bit of reading in my own Bible, since I don't know enough about it to just assume, I found out what those allusions meant. You just name it, son . Mama takes a stance against Mrs. Johnsons defeatist brand of assimilation, standing up for her children and their dreams for a better future. Shaka Zulu initiated the idea of complex battle formations in order to outflank and confuse his enemies, not unlike those strategies used in football formations. Walter comes in, after having had a few too many drinks, and joins in Beneatha's ritualistic dance. George uses his social standing to elevate himself above what he sees as the stigma of his racial identity (and acts like a stuck-up jerk in doing so). A Raisin in the Sun. He says that he feels depressed, despondent, and useless as the man of the family. Ku Klux Klan: a secret hate group Beneatha wants to pursue a degree in medical science. When Mrs. Johnson enters, she brings the Youngers a newspaper that tells of a bombing of a black family's home in an all-white neighborhood. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. What allusion is Beneatha making in the following passage? to Walter Lee. Presently BENEATHA'S bedroom door opens and RUTH'S mouth falls and she puts down the iron in fascination. Refine any search. The possibility of achieving his dream reinvigorates Walter and permits him to regain his identity as a worthy husband and father. Sometimes it can end up there. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Clearly, we can see by the way Walter talks about them that he appreciates their music very much. As Mama tells Ruth, Big Walter finally worked hisself to For Walter, the fulfillment of Mamas dream for a house spells the death of his own dream for owning a liquor store. Gimme some sugar then a southern expression that means "Give me a hug, a kiss." and I hand you the world! PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Caucasus, where his liver was torn out every day by an eagle but grew back each night. peckerwoods no-count riff-raff; poor, shiftless, racially prejudiced whites. Act II, Scene 2: Questions and Answers . One way for them to escape this entrapment, though, seems to be through a reliance on each other. This character, however, was cut from the original stage production in order to reduce production costs. When Ruth says that Beneatha is fresh Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Act II Scene 2, Mrs. Johnson (Mrs. Wilhelmina Othella Johnson). Owimoweh "Owimoweh" is the title of an African chant, referring to the waking of the lion. who headed Tuskegee Institute, a college In addition, Beneathas fight with George and the rest of her family represents a larger battle within the Black community over whether to enhance and celebrate their differences from whites or whether to join white culture and try to elevate their status within it. Discount, Discount Code SparkNotes PLUS You are responsible for researching the allusions as we read. Allusions Walter wants to own his own business. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. refers to the character "Madame Butterfly" I guess I better be going . groups. Looking at old photographs of Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and other entertainers of that period, we see that they adopted this style. Beneatha intellectualizes everything, is clearly independent, does not defer to men, and argues whatever points of chauvinism she finds in her conversation with men. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Teachers and parents! They ground the work in a specific time SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. She compares, for example, the overt racism of the south at that time with the covert racism found in the north. SWA 3 - Short Writing Assignment to prepare for writing an essay in English. Beneatha and George come in from their date and after a brief disagreement, George leaves, puzzled. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. George says, "Goodnight, Prometheus!" Walters irresponsible behavior displays the extremely detrimental effect that the deferral of his dream has had on him. Ghana, Mali, and Songhai were the three greatest of the many empires that flourished in West Africa, yet all that remains of these advanced civilizations of past great wealth and strength are relics of ruins and the tales of ancient travelers. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. If the salt loses its savor: Context- Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. fight prejudice, lynching, and Jim Crow March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 She named this child Ibn-alHakim, which means "son of the wise man," but he was popularly known as Menelik. may appear on any quiz! Africa During this period in history, some black men (especially those connected with show business) would have their hair straightened through a chemical process that was both demeaning and extremely painful. George wants to kiss Beneatha, but she does not want to kiss. Walter then becomes belligerent as he makes fun of Georges white shoes. Many Black peoplehad begun to reject assimilationist ideals, believing by this time that mainstream America would always mean white America and that assimilating into this culture would always mean degrading themselves to fit white societys perceptions of how Black peopleshould be and act. Mamas feeble plant represents her familys deferred dreams for a better future, which have struggled to survive under the strain of life in Chicagos South Side. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Beneatha uses George's weak attempts to change her personality as the excuse that she needs to end their relationship. Walters boss calls, telling Ruth that Walter has not been to work in three days. who was punished by Zeus for stealing. You'll also receive an email with the link. Mama says this to Travis as she tells him about the house that she is planning to buy. Since the audience for this plays initial run was mostly white, such a threat to white dominance was extremely revolutionary. He says, for example, that one day he will come in from work, "home from my office downtown," and even Travis is incredulous as he reminds his father, "You don't work in no office, Daddy." misplaced value is the cause: We feel a After Joseph Asagai refers to Beneathas Caucasian-style straightened hair as mutilated, Beneatha reevaluates the significance of her not believe in its religious messages. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. This phrase also refers to the Lion of Judah. Walter seems to care more for Traviss education than for Beneathas, partly because Travis is his child and partly because Beneatha is a woman. A Raisin in the Sun: Act 2, Scene 1 Summary & Analysis Next Act 2, Scene 2 Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis That evening, Ruth is ironing and listening to the radio when Beneatha enters "grandly" from her bedroom, wearing the robes and headdress that Asagai gave her that morning. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Dive into a thorough description and analysis of Act 1: Scene 1 and Act 1: Scene 2 of this production . It means that the white people in Chicago are being violent towards African Americans. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.