What Pastimes Does Rasin In The Sun Pursue Beneath The Surface?

In “A Raisin in the Sun”, Beneatha is a young, independent, feminist college student who is determined to become a doctor and challenges traditional gender roles. She has indulged in various hobbies, including acting, horsebackriding, photography, and a desire to play the guitar. Beneatha’s character is portrayed as a call to African women to voice against discrimination and explore their African heritage.

The play’s dramatic impact is contributed by Hansberry’s portrayal of Beneatha, who is an ambitious and progressive character who seeks to express herself through her hobbies. She questions why Beneatha experimented with hobbies like horseback riding and photography, as it is important to express oneself. Beneatha’s mother, Ruth, and other characters, such as Joseph Asagai, call her “Alaiyo”, which means “One for Whom Bread – Food – is Not Enough”.

In “A Raisin in the Sun”, Beneatha’s father, Joseph Asagai, calls her “Alaiyo”, which means “One for Whom Bread – is Not Enough”. Beneatha’s exploration of her African heritage and her entrance with her afro and Nigerian garb were perhaps the first such appearance on an American stage.

In “A Raisin in the Sun”, Beneatha has not pursued the horseback riding hobby but has shown interest in other hobbies, including playing the guitar. She wants to be a doctor and has had many hobbies, including Afrocentrism.

Beneatha grieves for her dying dream of becoming a doctor, as she no longer believes she can attain her goal due to the dried up source of tuition money. She hopes that some of the money from her father’s social insurance cheque will help go towards her medical school. Beneatha is described as slim and intense, with an intellectual face, and her journey towards her goal is a testament to the power of individuality and determination.


📹 A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Summary & Analysis

Professor Kristen Over of Northeastern Illinois University provides an in-depth analysis of the plot, characters, symbols, and …


What is Beneatha’s dream career?

In Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun, Beneatha Younger aspires to become a doctor and achieve the American Dream through independence, hard work, and determination, despite her lack of financial support.

What are Beneatha's ambitions in A Raisin in the Sun?
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What are Beneatha’s ambitions in A Raisin in the Sun?

Beneatha, a young, independent, feminist college student, is determined to become a doctor. She dates two men, Joseph Asagai and George Murchison, with Asagai being her happiest and George being her most depressed and angry. Beneatha identifies more with Asagai’s interest in rediscovering his African roots than George’s assimilating into white culture. Asagai criticizes her for being too independent and dependent, causing her to rely on insurance money from her father’s death and investments made by her brother.

This realization brings her closer to Walter, who she initially blames for his shoddy investing and questions his manhood. However, she eventually recognizes his strength and appreciates him for his efforts. Beneatha’s struggle with independence and her dependence on her brother ultimately shapes her perspective on her dreams and her relationship with Walter.

What is Beneatha’s occupation?

In A Raisin in the Sun, Beneatha Younger represents a contrasting perspective to that of her family, who adhere to traditional domestic roles. She is an intellectual, attending college and aspiring to become a doctor.

What does Beneatha really want?

In Act I, Beneatha articulates her long-held aspiration to become a physician. This desire precedes the insurance payout and is not motivated by selfishness or superiority, as Walter suggests.

What are Beneatha's hobbies in A Raisin in the Sun?
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What are Beneatha’s hobbies in A Raisin in the Sun?

Bennie, an eccentric and eclectic young African American woman, is a serial dreamer who has been experimenting with various activities since childhood. Her family struggles to support her dreams due to her constant changes in her mind. However, her dream to be a doctor is unique and lasting, as she reflects on a friend’s sledding accident and the doctor’s ability to fix him.

Bennie’s unrealistic expectations about her social status, race, and gender, as well as the gap between her perception of herself and the world, contribute to her frustration and halting of her dreams. The culture of the time forces her into stereotypes that fall short of her visions.

Bennie suffers from arrogance and ignorance about her dreams, believing that her dream will be cared for by her mother. She believes that multiple and complex dreams demonstrate her refusal to set limits on her future. Walter points out that there is a line between asking and accepting, and she is ready to accept what is offered to her.

Bennie also views many threats to her dream, such as Walter’s carelessness with money, his obsession with his own dreams, the coming baby, and the expectations to assimilate. In her defense, she believes that education opens doors and provides respect, as evidenced by their neighbor, Mrs. Johnson, referring to her as the “only one in the family to make something of herself”.

In conclusion, Bennie’s unconventional and unrealistic dreams are hindered by her cultural upbringing and the pressure to conform to stereotypes. Despite these challenges, Bennie’s determination to pursue her dreams and make a difference in the world is crucial for her personal growth and success.

What activities does Beneatha do?
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What activities does Beneatha do?

In the 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun, Beneatha, a character played by Lorraine Hansberry, represents the young women of the 1950s silent generation on the verge of new freedom. She refuses to labor under typical racial and gender roles and dares to “seek her identity” by studying guitar, horseback riding, and engaging in other activities considered frivolous in a traditional, black, working-class household. Her knowledge of America’s rich history and revolutionary present challenge the Tarzan myths of the period.

By rejecting a rich, middle-class suitor, she questions prevailing expectations that women should be satisfied as housewives or sex objects. Beneatha’s atheistic views reveal the complex authoritarian and traditional values held by her mother. Her plans to study medicine elicit her brother’s sexist comment that she should be satisfied with nursing. In the last act, Beneatha’s disavowal of her brother’s demeaning plans rouses Mama to deliver the most eloquent speech in the play, reminding her that her brother deserves her love especially when he is suffering the most. Beneatha remains an unusually provocative depiction of the independent African American woman.

What are Beneatha’s hopes and dreams?

Like all the characters in the play, Beneatha has aspirations that are beyond her reach. She aspires to attend medical school, her brother Walter is interested in investing in a liquor store, and her mother is motivated to provide a better life for her children.

What is Beneatha's current ambition in life?
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What is Beneatha’s current ambition in life?

Walter loses insurance money to Willy, a crook he mistakenly believes is his friend. Mama entrusts Walter with the remaining money after the down payment on the new house, but he ignores her wishes and hands it over to Bobo, who gives Walter’s money and his own contribution to their partner Willy. They plan to use the money to bribe government officials and secure a liquor license for their shop in Springfield, Illinois. However, Willy flees with the money, causing devastating consequences for the entire Younger family, especially Beneatha, whose dream of becoming a doctor is now in peril.

The Youngers decide to move to honor their deceased father’s legacy and preserve their sense of pride. After losing the insurance money, the family’s dream of moving into the new house no longer seems possible. The spirit of optimism has dissipated, and everyone must work and contribute to pay for the house. In despair, Walter considers selling the house to the Clybourne community at a profit. However, when Lindner arrives, Walter has a change of heart, stating that they have decided to move into their house because their father earned it for them.

Ruth discovers she’s pregnant and does not see hope for her family. Their apartment is too small, money is tight, and they are struggling in their marriage. Ruth worries that Walter will not see her or their son and that she will not be able to raise a child on her own. She decides not to bring another life into poverty and pain.

What does Beneatha want to do as a career?
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What does Beneatha want to do as a career?

Beneatha, nicknamed “Bennie”, is a twenty-year-old college student from the Younger family, with a strong interest in her African heritage. She is the most educated member of the Younger family and is open to discussing her views on religion, feminism, and racial assimilation. Beneatha dreams of becoming a doctor and believes in the right to express herself, a concept not shared by other women in the play. Her speech is characterized by her education and a Midwestern accent, which sets her apart from her family’s speech.

The quotes in A Raisin in the Sun are spoken by Beneatha Younger or refer to her, with each theme indicated by a dot and icon. For example, Beneatha is questioned by Walter about her career aspirations, but she finally gets it said after three years of hard work and determination.

What are Beneatha's weaknesses?
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What are Beneatha’s weaknesses?

Bennie, a young woman, struggles with arrogance and ignorance about her dreams. She believes her mother will provide for her education, but she is hesitant to set limits on her future. Walter, a careless parent, warns her of the dangers of not asking for anything. Bennie views Walter’s carelessness, the upcoming baby, and expectations to assimilate as threats to her dreams. She believes that education opens doors and provides respect, as seen in their neighbor, Mrs. Johnson.

The loss of her medical school funding due to Walter’s faltering career leads Bennie to question the harsh realities of reality. She believes that life is a circle of false hopes, with no real progress. Asagai, a realist, argues that life is an eternal line with no beginning, end, or changes. Bennie’s perspective is skewed, with idealists dreaming and seeing changes, and realists seeing life as a circle of no progress.

Bennie’s journey to find herself is far from over, but she is reenergized by witnessing her brother’s prideful stand. With the possibility of marrying Asagai and moving to Africa, she has a renewed sense that opportunities are not guaranteed, but determination can create them.

Who are Beneatha's love interests?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Who are Beneatha’s love interests?

Beneatha is disinclined to marry George Murchison and Joseph Asagai, primarily due to Murchison’s ostentatious demeanor and Asagai’s aspiration for a more profound romantic partnership.


📹 A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Act 1, Scene 1

Professor Kristen Over of Northeastern Illinois University provides an in-depth summary and analysis of Act 1, Scene 1 of Lorraine …


What Pastimes Does Rasin In The Sun Pursue Beneath The Surface?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Rae Fairbanks Mosher

I’m a mother, teacher, and writer who has found immense joy in the journey of motherhood. Through my blog, I share my experiences, lessons, and reflections on balancing life as a parent and a professional. My passion for teaching extends beyond the classroom as I write about the challenges and blessings of raising children. Join me as I explore the beautiful chaos of motherhood and share insights that inspire and uplift.

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