Additionally, Beneatha celebrates her African heritage at the expense of her African-American identity, dismissing the good loud bluesan musical style that emerged from the African-American experienceas whitewashed assimilationist junk.. She has the radio going. Colonel McCormick: owner and publisher shows how the life of an unassuming Walter's sudden intrusion into the dance is comical on the surface, but on a deeper level, Walter Lee appears somewhat tragic as he attempts to recapture his lost African past. 84 A RAISIN IN THE SUN. Benin When George Murchison mentions "the great sculpture of Benin," he is referring to the magnificent works of art that were produced throughout Africa, much to the astonished appreciation of Europeans who had come to Africa, first to trade and later to capture slaves. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Attesting to Hansberry's preoccupation with the demise of such great African civilizations and her deep regret that there was a universal lack of knowledge of these ancient black kingdoms are her constant references to Africa in Raisin. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Ruth and Mama are shocked by Mrs. Johnsons shameless comments, which run counter to the Youngers deep sense of dignity. She is simultaneously showing off her Allusions In A Raisin In The Sun. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Access Free A Raisin In The Sun Act 2 Study Guide Answers A Reader's Guide to Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun Raisin Presents a critique and analysis of "A Raisin in the The "Mrs. Johnson" character brings laughter to the scene, for she is a comical figure, but she also expresses sentiments that have always been prevalent in the black community. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Thus, the art of Benin was, at first, attributed to the Portuguese; then someone suggested that the bronzes had been washed ashore from the lost city of Atlantis or had been created by its descendants or survivors; others said that some lost and wandering Europeans had found themselves in Benin and had produced the bronze wonders; others said that nomadic Greeks had produced these works while journeying through Africa. pedantic response, a phrase from the They are fair game and Period 5 1844 - 1877 Amsco Note Taking Guide (Ch. Acd English I / Duryea-Lojko Name ____________________ heathenism Why does Mama buy a house in an all-white neighborhood? A Raisin in the Sun Study Guide Literary Elements: Be ready to identify examples that fit with the following terms. After the death of her husband, Mama Younger receives a $10,000 life insurance. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Because her uncle, Leo Hansberry, was a professor of African history at Howard University and, perhaps, because one of his students was Kwame Nkrumah, who led Ghana to independence, Hansberry's major geographical focus here appears to be on the history of Ghana, known prior to its independence as "The Gold Coast." The scene opens a few weeks later, on a Friday night; packing crates fill the Younger apartment in preparation for the move. Want 100 or more? Dive into a thorough description and analysis of Act 1: Scene 1 and Act 1: Scene 2 of this production . SparkNotes PLUS He was crowned Emperor in 1930. After Mrs. Johnson leaves and Mama learns that Walter has not been to work in three days, she feels responsible for his despair ("I been doing to you what the rest of the world been doing to you"), so responsible, in fact, that she gives him $6500, all that's left of the insurance check after her downpayment of $3500 on the Clybourne Park house, so that he can feel that he is the "man of the house." How has the atmosphere in the Younger apartment changed since the first scene? the nature of quiet desperation The complete quotation to which George refers is "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation," a line from Thoreau's Walden. Meanwhile, Walter is noticeably upset because he wants to put all the money into the liquor store venture. Queen Makeda was known by many names: "Bilquis" to the ancient Moslems, "Black Minerva" and "Ethiopian Diana" to the Greeks, "Queen of Sheba" to King Solomon, and to her own people, she was "Makeda, the beautiful." You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. The scene closes with Walters description to Travis of his materialistic fantasy about the futureWalter still wants to be a part of the culture that excludes him. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. If the salt loses its savor: Context- Presently BENEATHA'S bedroom door opens and RUTH'S mouth falls and she puts down the iron in fascination. Walter dreams of being able to offer his son the world, an aspiration that centers on the power of money to overcome racial prejudice and limitations. He implies in his speech that men do not like aggressive, independent, liberated women, and that if she ever hopes to get married and have a family, she is going to have to "drop the Garbo routine," meaning she will have to stop studying and thinking so much, and start acting "like a [submissive] woman.". Washington believed strongly that artistic endeavors and intellectual pursuits were not in the best interest of black people trying to emerge from a long period of slavery. A Raisin in the Sun Act II, Scene ii Summary & Analysis - SparkNotes PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Mamas feeble plant represents her familys deferred dreams for a better future, which have struggled to survive under the strain of life in Chicagos South Side. SWA 3 - Short Writing Assignment to prepare for writing an essay in English. The dancing scene with Beneatha and Walter is difficult to interpret, as the drunken Walter seems to mock the African dances and practices, while Beneatha seems not to comprehend this mocking. Dont have an account? In Beneatha and Georges conversation, Hansberry reveals two sets of values regarding education. Act II Scene 1, Mrs. Johnson (Mrs. Wilhelmina Othella Johnson). Asked by Aziz A. Although George suspects that Ruth has never been to the theater and certainly not a theater in another state he insists on giving Ruth unnecessary information about the difference between curtain times in Chicago and New York's theaters. The debate does not continue and, at this point, Mrs. Johnson concedes by saying, "You know, me and you ain't never agreed about some things, Lena Younger. An opportunity for the family to escape the poverty comes when the family receive an 10,000 insurance check. George says, "Goodnight, Prometheus!" Still, her warning to the Youngers was a reality in 1959, when this play opened, and, unfortunately, in some communities, even today. title character of the oscar winning 1942 film about a middle-class family's struggle to survive in wartorn Britain; Mama compared to this middle-class housewife who tends roses and represents strength and hope Sunlight vs. Darkness sunlight: goodness; nourishes and allows everything to grow and develop By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Share your findings with the class. Asagai says he wants to sweep the maiden (Beneatha) back across the middle passage. After Joseph Asagai refers to Beneathas Caucasian-style straightened hair as mutilated, Beneatha reevaluates the significance of her Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! These allusions reference the outside world, but also give emphasis on the importance of the piece of the text references. A Raisin in the Sun Act II, Scene i Summary & Analysis - SparkNotes Uncharacteristically, Walter embraces his African heritage, but only in a fleeting moment of fantasy. a descendant of Chaka Chaka, also known as Shaka, or Shaka Zulu, was an early nineteenth century African warrior-king who implemented warfare techniques and weaponry which have been studied and adopted by military leaders and personnel worldwide ever since Shaka's time. She dances around the apartment, claiming to be performing a tribal dance while shouting "OCOMOGOSIAY" and singing. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Mrs. Johnson - historical groups. Mrs. Johnson says white folks in Chicago are acting like the ones in Mississippi. His insult packs even more punch in light of Ruths recently discovered pregnancy. LitCharts Teacher Editions. The rulers of Mali established the Muslim religion that had come out of Arabia and was sweeping throughout Africa. One instance includes Beneatha speaking to Walter, Mama, and Ruth, saying, "George Murchison! Many factors contributed to the downfall of the aforementioned empires, including weakening from within by internal strife, invasions by outsiders and the beginnings of trade along the West Coast with European merchants. Everyone has something different they hope to do with the money so that they can fulfill their dreams. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. All of this confusion was due to the widespread ignorance of Africa, its traditions, its people and their capabilities, and the great lost civilizations. Walter, whether consciously or not, is acting as if his and his sons interests are more important than Beneathas, even though Beneatha has proven she is intellectually capable. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Though he attained great stature in the first half of the twentieth century, public opinion had turned against him by the late 1950s. sharecroppers, Copyright 2023 StudeerSnel B.V., Keizersgracht 424, 1016 GC Amsterdam, KVK: 56829787, BTW: NL852321363B01, has a lot of allusions is an understatement. A Raisin in the Sun Act 2 Audio - YouTube Butterfly than a Nigerian; the allusion wards to talk to the other man) Shrewd move. Mama's feeble plant represents her family's deferred dreams for a better future, which have struggled to survive under the strain of life in Chicago's South Side. Previous The radical nature of the Youngers desire to participate in the American dream does bring along some hardship. Walter comes in, after having had a few too many drinks, and joins in Beneatha's ritualistic dance. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Mama tries to convince Walter to accept her dream and to recognize its value, but he cannot. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Indeed, in the episode with Mrs. Johnson, it becomes clear that Mama agrees with Beneatha far more than one might expect. old man is all right, man. Monsieur le petit bourgeois noir A Raisin in the Sun is an allusion in the fact that it is a reference to a line in a poem called "Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes. Booker T. Washington: An Benin's theocracy dictated the production of art for religious purposes. . period and they also help to develop characterization, conflict, and theme. Though Georges wealth and bearing impress Mama at first, she eventually shares Beneathas point of view. The reference was somewhat unsettling to colonial rulers of that day because of the suggested imagery of the fates of those caught in the presence of an awakening, ferocious lion. Hansberry creates a radical character in Beneatha, one who does not willingly submit to what she calls oppressive white culture. (including. nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Ruth and Walters concern about moving into a predominantly white neighborhood reflects the great tension that existed between raceseven in the Northern states. Ruth "affects" or "puts on" a tea party voice, purposely sounding pretentious . -Graham S. Walters fears about his worth as a man lead him to question Georges manhood. George calls Walter Lee "Prometheus" in order to subtly insult Walter, but mainly to point out Walter's lack of learning. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. (one code per order). A summary of Act II, Scene ii in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun. that big hotel on the Drive Walter refers to "that big hotel on the Drive" in a conversation with George Murchison as he asks George about the Murchison family's prospective real estate ventures. Wed love to have you back! Blacks began to "choose sides," debating constantly over who was right, and over which philosophy was actually in the best interest of black people. Hansberry makes it clear here that George and Beneatha are not compatible. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Dont have an account? The foreshadowing in A Raisin in the Sun functions to develop an atmosphere of uncertainty regarding the fate of the Younger family. Why does Mama buy a house in an all-white neighborhood? Although she is dressed like a Nigerian woman, she begins to dramatically fan herself in order to accentuate her outfit, but she inadvertently loses the African look and appears more Asian, looking as though she's Madame Butterfly instead of African royalty. At rise: RUTH is ironing again. the best little combo in the world This phrase refers to the band of musicians that Walter admires in the Green Hat. betterment of "people of color." W. E. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. lead lives of quiet desperation." He thinks Teachers and parents! SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Mr. Linder is "quiet-looking". My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. In addition, Beneathas fight with George and the rest of her family represents a larger battle within the Black community over whether to enhance and celebrate their differences from whites or whether to join white culture and try to elevate their status within it. He feels that his job is no better than a slaves job. Beneatha believes that society must be changed through self-knowledge and, thus, through consciousness and celebration of ones heritage. 13), N. Period 4 1800 - 1848 Amsco Note Taking Guide (Ch. Then, as if it were an afterthought, Ruth says that she's "never been 'fraid of no crackers" even though her previous dialogue says otherwise. In Walters eyes, the new house symbolizes the continued deferment of his dream.