In her play A Raisin in the Sun, playwright Loraine Hansberry uses the characters of Joseph Asagai and George Murchinson to show the themes of race and sexism. Compared to other characters, Asagai and George appear very little. However, their dialogues with the Beneatha display their opinions on the issues of race and sexism. While Asagai symbolizes the African American heritage and support of women’s rights, George displays the assimilationist African American and the sexism found in Chicago during Hansberry’s time. Beneatha’s rejection of George and acceptance of Asagai shows Hansberry’s rejection of sexism and assimilationism. Hansberry also uses them to develop the major themes of sexism and race in A Raisin in the Sun.
Asagai shows …show more content…
He represents what is expected of Beneatha, which Hansberry shows in Ruth’s response to Beneatha’s statement that she “would not marry him” (739). Ruth states, “Honey, I knew you was odd—“, suggesting that she thinks that Beneatha should marry George despite her lack of romantic feelings for him (739). Ruth’s vocalization of this opinion exhibits the sexism that women hold as well. Beneatha, the embodiment of feminism, wants “to be a doctor, and George, for one, still thinks that’s pretty funny,” and so she rejects the idea of marrying him because he is sexist (739). George’s opinion on her career goals show his sexism in that he doesn’t think that she will go through with the schooling or that she can do it. George similarly demonstrations sexism in his expectation that Beneatha will act, dress, and even think in certain ways. For instance, he mocks the traditional dress that Asagai gives her in telling her that “we’re going to the theatre—we’re not going to be in it . . . so go change, huh?” (755). He also shows his expectation in his reaction to her new hairstyle: “what have you done to your head—I mean your hair!” (755). Beneatha’s appearance matters to him, and he dislikes the way that she dresses because it reflects badly on him. After Beneatha changes, he compliments her “with emphasis, since this is a reversal,” as if to …show more content…
Through his dialogue with Beneatha, Hansberry shows Asagai 's pride in his African heritage and his belief in the strength of women. In contradiction, however, George epitomizes the sexist, assimilationist African American of Hansberry 's time. Beneatha 's subsequent rejection of George shows Hansberry 's feeling regarding assimilationalism and sexism. Therefore, Beneatha’s acceptance of Asagai shows Hansberry’s feminist side as well as her own appreciation of her African heritage. Due to the appearances of Asagai and George, Hansberry not only argues for the rejection of sexism and racism but declares her own opinions with regard to them as
Asagai shows …show more content…
He represents what is expected of Beneatha, which Hansberry shows in Ruth’s response to Beneatha’s statement that she “would not marry him” (739). Ruth states, “Honey, I knew you was odd—“, suggesting that she thinks that Beneatha should marry George despite her lack of romantic feelings for him (739). Ruth’s vocalization of this opinion exhibits the sexism that women hold as well. Beneatha, the embodiment of feminism, wants “to be a doctor, and George, for one, still thinks that’s pretty funny,” and so she rejects the idea of marrying him because he is sexist (739). George’s opinion on her career goals show his sexism in that he doesn’t think that she will go through with the schooling or that she can do it. George similarly demonstrations sexism in his expectation that Beneatha will act, dress, and even think in certain ways. For instance, he mocks the traditional dress that Asagai gives her in telling her that “we’re going to the theatre—we’re not going to be in it . . . so go change, huh?” (755). He also shows his expectation in his reaction to her new hairstyle: “what have you done to your head—I mean your hair!” (755). Beneatha’s appearance matters to him, and he dislikes the way that she dresses because it reflects badly on him. After Beneatha changes, he compliments her “with emphasis, since this is a reversal,” as if to …show more content…
Through his dialogue with Beneatha, Hansberry shows Asagai 's pride in his African heritage and his belief in the strength of women. In contradiction, however, George epitomizes the sexist, assimilationist African American of Hansberry 's time. Beneatha 's subsequent rejection of George shows Hansberry 's feeling regarding assimilationalism and sexism. Therefore, Beneatha’s acceptance of Asagai shows Hansberry’s feminist side as well as her own appreciation of her African heritage. Due to the appearances of Asagai and George, Hansberry not only argues for the rejection of sexism and racism but declares her own opinions with regard to them as