A Raisin in the SunA Raisin in the Sun

BeneathaCeline LinarteDeepak Atyam

pd. 5Mr. Jepsen

SettingSetting

• The setting takes place in a South side Chicago apartment.

The apartment is amongst the many in a genuinely all-black neighborhood during the 1940’s and late

1950’s. 

• The setting takes place in a South side Chicago apartment.

The apartment is amongst the many in a genuinely all-black neighborhood during the 1940’s and late

1950’s. 

Background InfoBackground Info

• Beneatha: At 20 years of age, Beneatha is a very intimidating person that believes in being intellectual as well as independent. She appears to be thin, good-looking, and lean.

• She holds a personality of an intellectual feminist and is a proud natural African American. • “That was the most marvelous thing in the world… I

wanted to do that.” Pg 1926

• At some point, she is revealed to be a bit open-minded person with a positive attitude. 

• Beneatha: At 20 years of age, Beneatha is a very intimidating person that believes in being intellectual as well as independent. She appears to be thin, good-looking, and lean.

• She holds a personality of an intellectual feminist and is a proud natural African American. • “That was the most marvelous thing in the world… I

wanted to do that.” Pg 1926

• At some point, she is revealed to be a bit open-minded person with a positive attitude. 

Background InfoBackground Info• Beneatha has been ashamed of her African

American heritage. She is strong willed at heart and she’s very specific when she speaks. Many times, she refers to the person that she is speaking to in respect to give them the all the attention.  

• “To go to Africa, Mama – be a doctor in Africa…”  Pg 1934

• With the help of Asagai, Beneatha becomes proud of her heritage. By using the term “heritage”, it indicates that she is of African blood and it does not date just to her ancestors. 

• Beneatha has been ashamed of her African American heritage. She is strong willed at heart and she’s very specific when she speaks. Many times, she refers to the person that she is speaking to in respect to give them the all the attention.  

• “To go to Africa, Mama – be a doctor in Africa…”  Pg 1934

• With the help of Asagai, Beneatha becomes proud of her heritage. By using the term “heritage”, it indicates that she is of African blood and it does not date just to her ancestors. 

FeminismFeminism

• “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy ‘bout messing ‘round with sick people- then go be a nurse like other women- or just get married and be quiet” pg. 1878

• Beneatha has met strong opposition with her future vocational plans• Plans of being a doctor

• She is assertive of her opinions which was different for the average woman during this time period

• “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy ‘bout messing ‘round with sick people- then go be a nurse like other women- or just get married and be quiet” pg. 1878

• Beneatha has met strong opposition with her future vocational plans• Plans of being a doctor

• She is assertive of her opinions which was different for the average woman during this time period

SKITSKIT

CharacterizationCharacterization• Depending on the subject, Beneatha can elaborate

on what her mind feels. Other times, she is straight to the point and is strong-willed • “Shut up.”

• She is direct and blunt to show her concise attitude about things. This habit reveals her true self inside her and allows other to know exactly what she is thinking and feeling about others.• “People went out and took the future right out of my hands!

And nobody asked me, nobody consulted me- they just went out and changed my life!”

• In this quote Hansberry shows Beneatha’s strong personality by expressing her anger

• Depending on the subject, Beneatha can elaborate on what her mind feels. Other times, she is straight to the point and is strong-willed • “Shut up.”

• She is direct and blunt to show her concise attitude about things. This habit reveals her true self inside her and allows other to know exactly what she is thinking and feeling about others.• “People went out and took the future right out of my hands!

And nobody asked me, nobody consulted me- they just went out and changed my life!”

• In this quote Hansberry shows Beneatha’s strong personality by expressing her anger

CharacterizationCharacterization

• Hansberry creates Beneatha’s character to be genuine by the way she speaks. The way she said that and the words that she spoke are very realistic. • “Talk about – Oldddddddd-

fashionedddddd-Negroes!”• “Sticks and stones may break my

bones but…. Words will never hurt me!” pg 1916

• Hansberry creates Beneatha’s character to be genuine by the way she speaks. The way she said that and the words that she spoke are very realistic. • “Talk about – Oldddddddd-

fashionedddddd-Negroes!”• “Sticks and stones may break my

bones but…. Words will never hurt me!” pg 1916

QuestionsQuestions

• Joseph Asagai: shows his pride for his African American culture by using words and terms from his Yoruba culture. This affects Beneatha because he helps them realize that their background and culture is very important and it is nothing to be ashamed of. • “Movement, progress… It makes me think of

Africa” Pg 1925

• Joseph Asagai: shows his pride for his African American culture by using words and terms from his Yoruba culture. This affects Beneatha because he helps them realize that their background and culture is very important and it is nothing to be ashamed of. • “Movement, progress… It makes me think of

Africa” Pg 1925

QuestionsQuestions• George Murchison is an educated man

who came from a successful family. Walter feels intimidated and repeats himself, especially when talking about George’s father.• He is a shallow man and at times, he is

ashamed of his heritage. • “That’s up to George. If he’s ashamed of his

heritage --”

• George Murchison is an educated man who came from a successful family. Walter feels intimidated and repeats himself, especially when talking about George’s father.• He is a shallow man and at times, he is

ashamed of his heritage. • “That’s up to George. If he’s ashamed of his

heritage --”

QuestionsQuestions

• A Raisin in the Sun is a comment on Langston’s poem in that their problem “festers like a soreAnd then runs.” They found a solution to their problem after years of struggle and their solution was to move, therefore they “ran.”

• Their life did not “sag like a heavy load,” it explode(d) because they were not stuck in one place with their problems; they were able to continue moving on even though mistakes occurred along the way.

• A Raisin in the Sun is a comment on Langston’s poem in that their problem “festers like a soreAnd then runs.” They found a solution to their problem after years of struggle and their solution was to move, therefore they “ran.”

• Their life did not “sag like a heavy load,” it explode(d) because they were not stuck in one place with their problems; they were able to continue moving on even though mistakes occurred along the way.

QuestionsQuestions

• The family did get an offer that stunk “like rotten meat, (and) crust and sugar over like a syurpy sweet;” however, the family rejected Lindner’s offer of extra money and decided to move anyways.

• Beneatha’s dream did not “dry up like a raisin in the sun,” for she still has a strong desire to become a doctor and fend for her family and heritage.

• The family did get an offer that stunk “like rotten meat, (and) crust and sugar over like a syurpy sweet;” however, the family rejected Lindner’s offer of extra money and decided to move anyways.

• Beneatha’s dream did not “dry up like a raisin in the sun,” for she still has a strong desire to become a doctor and fend for her family and heritage.