Interestingly, Hansberry makes Mama, Lena Younger, the strongest character in the play. She always seems to have the right answers while the other characters do not.
Who is the most important character in A Raisin in the Sun?
Walter Lee Younger
Walter Lee Younger
The protagonist of the play. Walter is a dreamer. He wants to be rich and devises plans to acquire wealth with his friends, particularly Willy Harris. When the play opens, he wants to invest his father’s insurance money in a new liquor store venture.
Who has power in A Raisin in the Sun?
The Younger’s insurance money has power over the character, Walter-the son of the passed, Mr. Younger. Walter is beaten by the power of the 10,000$ when Mama informs him that she will not be giving him any money to invest in a liquor store.
What is Beneatha’s strength?
Yet beneath what seems to be selfishness, Beneatha’s strengths are her spirit of independence, the fact that she is a “new woman” who refuses to accept the traditional, spineless female role, and the fact that she is so knowledgeable about Africa that her self-esteem is enhanced.
Who is the main character in A Raisin in the Sun and why?
More than any of the other characters, Walter most clearly serves as the main protagonist, since his dreams and his struggle to fulfill them drive much of the play’s action. Now that his father has died, Walter must take on more responsibility for the family’s well-being.
Why is Travis important in A Raisin in the Sun?
In many ways, Travis is the family’s investment. His future represents the possibility of ending the burdens of frustration that have accumulated over the generations [34]. Each family member seeks to nurture and care for Travis in hopes that he will have a better life filled with hope and possibilities.
Why is Asagai important to the story?
Asagai is helpful and concerned about the welfare of others. He volunteers to assist in the move to Clybourne Park and offers much-needed consolation and good advice to Beneatha when she is at her lowest.
What is the main message of a raisin in the sun?
At the heart of Hansberry’s ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ is the universal message of the desire for social progress amid the differing opinions on how to achieve it. A Raisin in the Sun is a play about an African American family aspiring to move beyond segregation and disenfranchisement in 1950s Chicago.
How are Beneatha and Walter different?
They disagree on virtually everything and her personality is more reputation-centered. Beneatha seems to be more moralistic and principled than Walter Lee, but this does not make her more likeable of a character. She is much more pessimistic than Walter and is selfish in her own way.
What is the conflict between Beneatha and Walter?
Much of the conflict between Beneatha and Walter revolves around Walter’s chauvinistic view of Beneatha. When Walter complains that Beneatha’s medical schooling will cost more than the family can afford, he bases his argument on the fact that since Beneatha is a woman, she should not even want to become a doctor.
Who does Beneatha end up with?
Unsurprisingly, Beneatha seems to not be into George at all by the end of the play. When we leave Beneatha at the play’s conclusion, she is even considering marrying Asagai and practicing medicine in Africa.
What does Asagai call Beneatha?
Alaiyo
When Asagai says goodbye, he calls Beneatha by a nickname, “Alaiyo.” He explains that it is a word from his African tribal language, roughly translated to mean “One for Whom Bread—Food—Is Not Enough.” He leaves, having charmed both women.
When did Beneatha cut her hair?
When the play begins, Beneatha has straightened hair. Midway through the play, after Asagai visits her and questions her hairstyle, she cuts her Caucasian-seeming hair. Her new, radical afro represents her embracing of her heritage.
Is Mama The hero of a raisin in the sun?
Lena Younger
Although Lena (known as Mama) may at first glance be more of a guide/mentor, her character also gets protagonist status because of her self-direction and independent thinking.
Who is the antagonist in raisin in the sun?
Walter believes that the women in his life are his main antagonists. In particular, he believes that his wife, Ruth, prevents him from taking the steps necessary to escape his dead-end service job and create a better life for himself.
Who are the 4 main characters in a raisin in the sun?
Walter and Ruth Younger, their son Travis, along with Walter’s mother Lena (Mama) and Walter’s younger sister Beneatha, live in poverty in a run-down two-bedroom apartment on Chicago’s South Side.
Who is the most dynamic character in A Raisin in the Sun?
Beneatha is a dynamic character who is easily influenced by her family and the people…show more content…
Why does Travis ask Ruth for 50 cents?
Travis asks Ruth for fifty cents because his teacher told all students to bring the money to school.
What does Mama’s plant symbolize?
Mama’s Plant
Her care for her plant is similar to her care for her children, unconditional and unending despite a less-than-perfect environment for growth. The plant also symbolizes her dream to own a house and, more specifically, to have a garden and a yard.
Why does Beneatha thank Asagai for the nickname?
The name is “Alaijo,” which means, “one for whom … food is not enough.” (8) Why does Beneatha thank Asagai for the nickname? She thanks him because the name tells her that he has listened to her desire to search for herself.
What does Asagai force Beneatha to realize?
Asagai makes Beneatha realize that she is self-centered.