A Raisin In The Sun Beneatha Monologue

In the play A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, Beneatha (Bennie) Younger is a fiery young woman, aspiring doctor, anti-assimilationist, sister of Walter Lee Younger, sister-in-law of Ruth Younger, and daughter to Lena Younger. Her views about the world during the 20th century are extremely modern compared to those she’s surrounded by at the time. This monologue was written to showcase Beneatha’s distaste for George’s treatment of her, her feisty attitude, her belief in the power of women, her love of African tradition, and her desire to become a doctor. Beneatha and George, from the very beginning of their faux relationship, experience a conflict of interest. Before this monologue begins, Beneatha has just gotten back from a date

She wistfully begins imagining a life as Mrs. Murchison where she “could be just like Ruth,” and do small jobs while her husband earns the majority of the income for the family. She asks George, “Do you believe that I could remain sane as a housewife?”, but this question is intended to be rhetorical. Bennie slowly returns to reality in her last line when she remembers that she’d be “wishing [she’d] pursued [her] dream,” and that she’d be looking into George’s “hungry eyes” day after day. This section of the monologue creates an argument for why the two are so incompatible, and shows Beneatha’s dependence on herself and her

She tells him “I’m going to be a successful doctor one day. Nothing you can say will change that.” A black woman becoming a doctor at the time is unheard of, but Bennie is determined to finish medical school and begin practicing. This determination reinstates her motivations as a black woman to break out of the stereotypes set for her. She concludes her statement by telling him to change his attitude, and learn a lesson about objectification, but states that she won’t be around if he does, meaning, George and she will no longer be going on dates. Beneatha is powerful for turning down George, an educated man with a much richer family than hers, but she is progressive for choosing her happiness over wealth. Beneatha Younger is a dynamic character with a personality fit for the twenty-first century. This monologue embodies her spirit as an opponent of stereotypes set for her, and her denial of assimilation. She clearly knows what she wants and how she’s going to get it, and this conversation with George is another step on her path to becoming a successful