One of Beneatha’s fellow students and one of her suitors, Asagai is from Nigeria, and throughout the play he provides an international perspective. Proud of his African heritage, he hopes to return to Nigeria to help bring about positive change and modern advancements.
What does Joseph Asagai do?
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. He counsels Beneatha spiritually and emotionally, helping her to get back “on track” as she rails against her brother’s foolishness in having lost the money.
What happens to Asagai in the raisin in the sun?
Asagai is thoughtful and well-spoken and he fosters Beneatha’s interest in her African roots. At the play’s end, Asagai asks Beneatha to marry him and “come home” to Africa.
What does Asagai want to do for his country?
Asagai argues that whether he dies a martyr or lives to be an old man there, his presence in Africa, as a man who can read and write, will help change the country. Asagai’s belief in this idea is so strong, he views his death as a positive event if it happens as a result of his efforts.
What did Asagai get Beneatha?
Joseph Asagai brings Beneatha a gift of African records and some Nigerian robes. After he leaves, Travis brings in the insurance check from the mailbox, and Walter seizes this opportunity to discuss his business plans again.
What are Asagai’s goals?
Proud of his African heritage, he hopes to return to Nigeria to help bring about positive change and modern advancements. He tries to teach Beneatha about her heritage as well. He stands in obvious contrast to Beneatha’s other suitor, George Murchison, who has succeeded in life by assimilating to the white world.
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 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.
What is the relationship between Beneatha and Asagai?
Asagai is a classmate of Beneatha’s from Nigeria, which gives his character an alternative perspective on America’s race problem and a distinctly Afrocentrist point of view, given that he comes directly from Africa and is described by Beneatha as an “intellectual” (1489).
Is Asagai an idealist or a dreamer?
Asagai prefers to be a part of those idealists who achieve great things. Even though Asagai knows life will be a struggle when he returns home, he holds onto his dream for a better Nigeria because of his efforts.
How does Asagai react when Beneatha tells him what just happened?
He says he is sorry, but he does not seem very upset. How does Asagai react when Beneatha tells him for what has just happened? When she was young, Beneatha saw a child horribly injured in the sledding accident. What made Beneatha want to become a doctor?
How does Asagai tease Beneatha about her hair?
After Joseph Asagai refers to Beneatha’s Caucasian-style straightened hair as “mutilated,” Beneatha reevaluates the significance of her “assimilationist” hairstyle and decides to cut her hair and wear it in its natural form.
Does Beneatha like Asagai?
She dates two very different men: Joseph Asagai and George Murchison. She is at her happiest with Asagai, her Nigerian boyfriend, who has nicknamed her “Alaiyo,” which means “One for Whom Bread—Food—Is Not Enough.” She is at her most depressed and angry with George, her pompous, affluent boyfriend.
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.
Why does Beneatha struggle to find her identity?
Also similarly to Sophie, Beneatha’s struggle to find her identity is rooted in the concept of assimilation, where for Beneatha, her struggle is exemplified in her troubled fixation with proving that she is not assimilating into the predominant white culture of America.
How old is Joseph Asagai?
Beneatha was greeted by a broad smiling across campus, 22 year old, Joseph Asagai was a slender African man, from Nigeria.
What was Asagai’s dream?
Asagai goes on to describe his dream: he wishes to return to Nigeria, bring back what he has learned, and share it with the people of his homeland so to improve their lives. In other words, Asagai believes in bringing modern advancements from Western society back to Africa to improve the quality of life there.
What is your impression of Asagai?
What is your impression of Asagai? Very intelligent, grounded, treats Beneatha very respectfully, and proud of his heritage.
What is Asagai like how does he influence Beneatha?
His dominant traits are his ability to persuade Beneatha to grow more fond of him, his nationalistic characteristics, and prideful. He is also very romantic as he tries to woo her with gifts from Africa. In Act II, Scene II, Asagai presents gifts to her, such as the records and a traditional African robe.
How does Beneatha react to Asagai’s marriage proposal?
Beneatha listens, then agrees to consider Asagai’s proposal of marriage, along with his invitation that she move to Nigeria to practice medicine.
Why did Beneatha say she wouldn’t marry George?
Why did Beneatha say she wouldn’t marry George? He was too conceited. He was too poor. He was too shallow.