A Raisin In The Sun Gender Analysis

Register to read the introduction… She refuses to live the subservient life that George Murchinson, a potential suitor, believes she should. She is most attracted to Asagai, another potential suitor, because of his racial authenticity. However, she was “not interested in being someone’s little episode” (64). She appreciates that Asagai does not change who he is because of circumstances or surroundings. However, his real intentions with Beneatha are obscure. Some critics believe that he intends for Beneatha to return to Nigeria with him to be his wife, while others believe that he wanted her to return as a doctor to help his village. In a conversation between Asagai and Beneatha when she is ready to give up on her dream after all of the money is lost he says, “[t]here is something wrong in a house-in a world-where all dreams, good or bad, must depend on the death of a man?” (135) The aspirations of women in society to become equal to men is a goal that women are still trying to …show more content…
“In many ways, A Raisin in the Sun seems to forecast events that would transpire during the decade following its initial production and beyond. The play raises issues of racial interaction and justice, as well as gender roles” (Domina). Major strides have been made in women's rights and feminism in the last sixty years. “The play also captures the spirit of the budding feminist movement...and the playwright reflects [women's] dissatisfaction with traditional feminine roles in the post-World War II years” (Tackach). The three women in the Younger home are indicative of the differences in attitudes of different generations. Mama understood her lot in life was to serve her husband and family. Ruth did not want to accept this as her fate but was not as strong as Beneatha to make a change. Beneatha was unapologetic and unwilling to allow anyone to change who she was, and the dreams she had. A lesson in gender roles throughout history can be taken away from this