The word “Prometheus” fits Walter’s fiery personality. Prometheus, the god who was punished for bringing fire to mortals, was chained to Mt. Caucasus, where every day an eagle tore out his liver, which grew back each night.
What did George mean by calling Walter Prometheus?
George calls Walter Lee “Prometheus” in order to subtly insult Walter, but mainly to point out Walter’s lack of learning. This scene clearly reveals Walter Lee’s lack of formal education because Walter assumes that George has simply invented the name “Prometheus” to annoy him.
WHO calls Walter Prometheus in A Raisin in the Sun?
In A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry uses an allusion to compare Walter Lee to the mythical Prometheus. This allusion was conveyed by George Murchison in the Act I, Scene II, when George and Beneatha went on a date. Walter’s reaction to George calling him Prometheus was not a good one.
What are the symbols in A Raisin the Sun?
What are some symbols in A Raisin in the Sun? Some of the symbols are Mama’s plant, Beneatha’s hair, music, the phrase “eat your eggs,” the $10,000 insurance payment, and money more generally.
What does George Call Walter in A Raisin in the Sun?
George proves to be as pedantic as Beneatha, peppering his arguments with literary allusions and oftentimes esoteric references — for example, calling Walter “Prometheus.” George is trying to persuade Beneatha to abandon her feminist principles when he utters this philosophical truth, but throughout the play, Hansherry
Does Prometheus mean?
forethought
In Greek mythology, Prometheus (/prəˈmiːθiəs/; Ancient Greek: Προμηθεύς, [promɛːtʰéu̯s], possibly meaning “forethought”) is a Titan god of fire. Prometheus is best known for defying the gods by stealing fire from them and giving it to humanity in the form of technology, knowledge, and more generally, civilization.
What does Walter symbolize in A Raisin in the Sun?
Many of the characters hold a strong symbolic meaning, and Walter Lee Younger is no exception. He is the symbol of hope and ambition, dreams and desires, passion and fury. When taken at face value, all of those characteristics are applied towards his own success and the well-being of the family.
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.
What does Beneatha’s nickname mean?
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.
How did Walter lose the money?
How does Walter lose the insurance money? Walter loses the insurance money to Willy, a crook that he mistakes for a friend. Mama entrusts Walter with all the money that remains after the down payment on the new house.
What does the 10 000 check symbolize in A Raisin in the Sun?
The life insurance check that Mama receives after the death of her husband represents hope, as each member of the family sees it as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make their dreams come true. However, the money doesn’t solve as many problems as they imagined.
What does 50 cents symbolize in A Raisin in the Sun?
50 Cents. Walter giving Travis an extra fifty cents which is a symbol of his pride and a symbol of how the family years for money.
What does Beneatha’s hair symbolize in A Raisin in the Sun?
Beneatha’s natural hair symbolizes her pride in her African heritage and her desire to explore her African roots.
Why does Beneatha break up with George?
As Beneatha dances in a robe that Asagai gives her, George deems her interest in her African roots absurd. His comments put him further at odds with Beneatha, and she begins to feel more of an affinity with Asagai and her African roots than with George and what she considers to be his false roots in American society.
When George tries to kiss Beneatha after their date What does she want to do instead?
On a Friday night a few weeks later, Beneatha and George return from a date. The Youngers’ apartment is full of moving boxes. George wants to kiss Beneatha, but she does not want to kiss. Instead, she wants to engage George in a conversation about the plight of Black Americans.
Why did Beneatha not want to be a doctor anymore?
Q. Why didn’t Beneatha want to be a doctor anymore? she’s sees no human battle worth fighting no human life worth saving . she decided to go to Africa instead.
What is the lesson of Prometheus?
Prometheus stands for human progress against the forces of nature. We learn close to the beginning that he has given humanity the gifts of fire and hope. Hope helps human beings to struggle for a better future while fire, as the source of technology, makes success in that struggle possible.
What is the symbol of Prometheus?
The most prominent symbol of Prometheus was fire.
Is Prometheus a hero or villain?
(Prometheus is both a trickster and also a hero to humanity). In his role as an advocate for humanity, he was revered by the educated people of Athens. He also serves as a symbol of Greek culture’s transition from reliance on the gods to a more independent (and perhaps troubling) existence.
What does Ruth symbolize in A Raisin in the Sun?
In this regard, Ruth is symbolically aligned with Mama, with whom she shares a vision of providing the family with better living conditions. While Walter wants to use the insurance money for his business, and Beneatha needs it for her schooling, Ruth advocates strongly for moving the family out of the South Side slums.
What does George symbolize in A Raisin in the Sun?
In this play, the educated and wealthy George Murchison represents the black person whose own self-hatred manifests itself as contempt for other blacks. George is pedantic — an academic show-off — constantly making literary allusions even when he knows that this information is lost upon his audience.