Set in Chicago’s South Side during the post-World War II racially segregated era, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry describes the life of members of a lower-middle-class African-American family, the Youngers, who receive a check from a life insurance company and then disagree over how to best make use of it to fulfill their various aspirations. Beneatha Younger refuses to let her family’s poor financial conditions from pursuing her dreams and asserting her ideals. Her progressive and stubborn disposition causes her to explore her interests, deride George Murchison, and argue with her brother, Walter.
Beneatha’s adamancy and open mindedness lead her to seriously consider her myriad interests. As she is about to start guitar lessons, …show more content…
Because Beneatha argues with her mother that her extracurriculars are not arbitrary, but rather, are true passions, she demonstrates her obstinateness. In addition, her pursuit of these differing hobbies illustrates her wide array of pastimes, and thus, her curiosity in many fields. Because she lives at a time when women were expected to only be concerned with household matters, Beneatha’s actions directly challenge traditional notions. Because of her personality, she is not bothered with others’ opinions, so she can the multiple her multiple facets. Moreover, when Beneatha receives Nigerian garments from Asagai, she encounters yet another amusement in discovering her African heritage. When George condemns Beneatha’s curiosity and dismisses African tribes as primitive, she elucidates, “ I hate assimilationist Negroes!... you are standing there in your splendid ignorance talking about people who were the first to smelt iron on the face of the earth!... The Ashanti were performing surgical operations when the English… were tattooing themselves” (Hansberry 854). Beneatha contradicts George’s statements about African tribes in order to establish his ignorance and presumptuousness, which then portrays her as supportive of uncommonly known facts, such as those that point to the advanced nature of these tribes, as well as questioning of stereotypes. She is pugnacious and clear to assert her point, however unpopular, so she is unafraid of others’ opinions and does not let them influence her pursuit of her interests. Beneatha is assertive and open-minded, enabling her to consider a variety of
Beneatha’s adamancy and open mindedness lead her to seriously consider her myriad interests. As she is about to start guitar lessons, …show more content…
Because Beneatha argues with her mother that her extracurriculars are not arbitrary, but rather, are true passions, she demonstrates her obstinateness. In addition, her pursuit of these differing hobbies illustrates her wide array of pastimes, and thus, her curiosity in many fields. Because she lives at a time when women were expected to only be concerned with household matters, Beneatha’s actions directly challenge traditional notions. Because of her personality, she is not bothered with others’ opinions, so she can the multiple her multiple facets. Moreover, when Beneatha receives Nigerian garments from Asagai, she encounters yet another amusement in discovering her African heritage. When George condemns Beneatha’s curiosity and dismisses African tribes as primitive, she elucidates, “ I hate assimilationist Negroes!... you are standing there in your splendid ignorance talking about people who were the first to smelt iron on the face of the earth!... The Ashanti were performing surgical operations when the English… were tattooing themselves” (Hansberry 854). Beneatha contradicts George’s statements about African tribes in order to establish his ignorance and presumptuousness, which then portrays her as supportive of uncommonly known facts, such as those that point to the advanced nature of these tribes, as well as questioning of stereotypes. She is pugnacious and clear to assert her point, however unpopular, so she is unafraid of others’ opinions and does not let them influence her pursuit of her interests. Beneatha is assertive and open-minded, enabling her to consider a variety of