Yasla Ngoma
In class Essay
Ms.Russo
10.12.2016
A Raisin in the Sun takes place during the mid-sixties, during a time period which was hard for African Americans and even worse for black women because of racism and gender discrimination. African American women didn’t really go out of their way to do something big with their life because there weren’t a lot of opportunities for black women. Mama and Ruth are examples of how limited black women were. Both women grew up in worse situations than what the Youngers are in now, with people around them that probably didn’t encourage them to set goals and go after them. They also didn’t have that opportunity that Beneatha has to go to college. During that time the only real job a women could have …show more content…
She has two men in her life--Asagai and George Murchinson. She has very different relationships with each of them. Asagai loves Beneatha. He buys her expansive African clothing from his country. He also goes to visit Beneatha and check in on her. Asagai has even given Beneatha the nickname Alaiyo, meaning “one for whom bread is not enough.” He asked Beneatha many times if they could get married so that he can take her back to Africa with him, but Beneatha has the courage to express that she’s not ready for that type of relationship. A Raisin in the Sun tells us that Asagai thinks that only he should have a say in the relationship. He tells Beneatha, “ Between a man and a woman there need be only one kind of feeling. I have that for you”(63). However, Beneatha courageously tells him “I know- and by itself it won’t do.” Asagai’s response to Beneatha is, “For a women it should be enough” (63). Then, Beneatha standing firm says “ I know - because that’s what it says in all the novels that men write. But it isn’t. Go ahead and laugh- but I’m not interested in being someone's little episode in America or... one of them” (64). Like Asagai, George Murchinson really likes Beneatha. He is a wealthy, educated African American young man who is way more privileged than Asagai. Although George takes Beneatha out to nice movies and fancy dates. Beneatha doesn’t really care for George. It would have been so easy for …show more content…
Her dream was like a juicy grape that started out big until it was left in the sun. When Walter gave away the ten thousand dollar check Beneatha’s dream shriveled up just like a Raisin. She began to be reminded that a poor, black women like herself has little opportunities that could set her up for success. When Asagi comes over Beneatha is torn by the fact that someone could crush her dream. She tells him “ Asagai, while I was sleeping in that bed in there, people went out and took the future right out of my hands! And nobody asked me, nobody consulted me- they just went and changed my life!”(134) Beneatha is positioning herself as completely powerless. She’s starting feel like Walter Lee before the check was in his possessions and he told Mama, “you butchered up a dream of his”. Beneatha’s chances to dream big were limited because she is reminded that it may not be possible but as she moves out of the tiny apartment building with her family she starts to see more opportunities. When Asagai offers to marry her and have her move with him to Africa she begins to see herself in her own dream again. In the end, we are reminded of the thoughtful, courageous young woman that we met at the beginning of the
In class Essay
Ms.Russo
10.12.2016
A Raisin in the Sun takes place during the mid-sixties, during a time period which was hard for African Americans and even worse for black women because of racism and gender discrimination. African American women didn’t really go out of their way to do something big with their life because there weren’t a lot of opportunities for black women. Mama and Ruth are examples of how limited black women were. Both women grew up in worse situations than what the Youngers are in now, with people around them that probably didn’t encourage them to set goals and go after them. They also didn’t have that opportunity that Beneatha has to go to college. During that time the only real job a women could have …show more content…
She has two men in her life--Asagai and George Murchinson. She has very different relationships with each of them. Asagai loves Beneatha. He buys her expansive African clothing from his country. He also goes to visit Beneatha and check in on her. Asagai has even given Beneatha the nickname Alaiyo, meaning “one for whom bread is not enough.” He asked Beneatha many times if they could get married so that he can take her back to Africa with him, but Beneatha has the courage to express that she’s not ready for that type of relationship. A Raisin in the Sun tells us that Asagai thinks that only he should have a say in the relationship. He tells Beneatha, “ Between a man and a woman there need be only one kind of feeling. I have that for you”(63). However, Beneatha courageously tells him “I know- and by itself it won’t do.” Asagai’s response to Beneatha is, “For a women it should be enough” (63). Then, Beneatha standing firm says “ I know - because that’s what it says in all the novels that men write. But it isn’t. Go ahead and laugh- but I’m not interested in being someone's little episode in America or... one of them” (64). Like Asagai, George Murchinson really likes Beneatha. He is a wealthy, educated African American young man who is way more privileged than Asagai. Although George takes Beneatha out to nice movies and fancy dates. Beneatha doesn’t really care for George. It would have been so easy for …show more content…
Her dream was like a juicy grape that started out big until it was left in the sun. When Walter gave away the ten thousand dollar check Beneatha’s dream shriveled up just like a Raisin. She began to be reminded that a poor, black women like herself has little opportunities that could set her up for success. When Asagi comes over Beneatha is torn by the fact that someone could crush her dream. She tells him “ Asagai, while I was sleeping in that bed in there, people went out and took the future right out of my hands! And nobody asked me, nobody consulted me- they just went and changed my life!”(134) Beneatha is positioning herself as completely powerless. She’s starting feel like Walter Lee before the check was in his possessions and he told Mama, “you butchered up a dream of his”. Beneatha’s chances to dream big were limited because she is reminded that it may not be possible but as she moves out of the tiny apartment building with her family she starts to see more opportunities. When Asagai offers to marry her and have her move with him to Africa she begins to see herself in her own dream again. In the end, we are reminded of the thoughtful, courageous young woman that we met at the beginning of the