Lorraine Hansberry’s
play A Raisin in the Sun, has so far
has shown a great number of themes already, even though we have only read up
until the end of Act II, scene i. After having read the introduction (and
having never read A Raisin in the Sun before)
I expected to read about a family that will stop at nothing to be recognized
and to be able to do whatever they wanted to do without being oppressed and
have their internal fires extinguished, but so far the only character that has
shown these qualities is Beneatha. Through her sarcastic, strong, independent
character Beneatha is showing a woman who desperately wants to be something in
a world that expects her to be nothing. Probably one of the most critical and
cynical character’s towards Beneatha is her brother, Walter. Walter seems to
have a sort of hostility towards his sister and her dreams of becoming a
doctor. Could his hostility stem from jealousy? Jealousy that Beneatha is
determined and on track to becoming successful, while he is stuck serving and chauffeuring
men around or is he just looking out for her by trying to prepare her for
failure?
Two reoccurring themes that
immediately took my notice in Act II, scene i were having dreams/ambitions and the
subject of money. The theme of dreams is present in almost every character,
especially Beneatha. Beneatha has dreams of becoming a successful doctor and is
pursuing such by going to college and preparing for medical school. This dream
of which is constantly criticized by her brother, Walter. An important dream
that Beneatha had in Act II, scene i is to not be an assimilationist. She shows
how just anti-assimilationist she truly strives to be on page 80,
“(Beneatha looks
at him and slowly, ceremoniously lifts her hands and pulls off the headdress.
Her hair is close-cropped and unstraightened. GEORGE freezes mid-sentence and
Ruth’s eyes all but fan out of her head)
GEORGE. What in
the name of—
RUTH. (Touching
Beneatha’s hair). Girl, you done lost your natural mind!? Look at your hair!
GEORGE. What have
you done to your head—I mean your hair!
BENEATHA. Nothing—except
cut it off.” (2.1.8-18).
Beneatha in an act of rebellion
cuts her hair and leaves it natural, this act is directly against the idea that
black women should try to assimilate and be like a white woman in every way
possible including their hair. Even now in 2019, black women are still shamed
for their natural hair, people call it “nappy” just as Ruth did. All black
women just as Beneatha so boldly displayed, should be able to be themselves
whether that means natural hair or not.
Another character
that has dreams of being successful is Walter. Not only does the theme of
dreams occur within his character, but also the second them I would like to
discuss and that is, money. Walter is seemingly obsessed with the matter of money
in Act II, scene i, he brings up Mama’s insurance check almost every chance he
gets. He seems the most excited, but the money does not even belong to him
(although he would like to think so). He dreams of opening up a liquor store
with one of his friends to make more money and become successful for his
family. Although Walter seems to have good intentions, he tends to take his
frustrations out on his family, especially Ruth. Walter has been unhappy lately
with his life and everyone has noticed, he is excited about the check coming in
hopes that Mama would help him in his business, come to find out Mama has other
plans. Another person not actually obsessed with money, has a large amount of
responsibility with it is Mama. The theme of money is especially prevalent
towards the end of the scene, when the check finally comes and Mama has to make
some big decisions. Come to find out at the end, Mama decided to but her family
a house with the check.
The big questions
I had at the end of this scene that I think that you guys should think about
are: Is Walter justified in his anger towards his mother for buying a house
with the check? And: Are Ruth and Walter’s marital problems to be blamed on
money or is there something deeper within Walter going on? If so, what do you
think that is?
