A Raisin In The Sun Literary Analysis

Africa and America are separated by an ocean, but in addition there is also an immense cultural divide which Lorraine Hansberry expertly displays in A Raisin in the Sun. Beneatha is a young black woman living with her family in Southside Chicago during the late 1950’s. She is studying to become a doctor which was very controversial for women at that time, especially a black woman. During her studies, she meets and dates both, the rich American fraternity boy and the African student from abroad. Both men reflect the two sides of Beneatha and her heritage. In the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Beneatha’s suitors, George and Asagai, take very different approaches to heritage, relationships and education; these approaches differ

During a visit with Asagai, the topic of his affections for her arises. He declares, “Between a man and a woman there should only be one feeling and I have it for you” (Hansberry 63). He shows love for Beneatha that is never shown to her by George. George only cares for the physical aspect of their relationship, but Asagai clearly wants an intellectual and emotional relationship with Beneatha, helping her to grow as an individual and not to conform to the norm. One day at the Younger household, George stops by to pay Beneatha a visit. Whilst there he tries to initiate sex, but beneatha is uninterested, he exclaims, “ You’re a nice looking girl… all over. That’s all you need, honey, forget the atmosphere— they’re going to go for what they see. Be glad for that… As for myself, I want a nice—(groping)—simple (thoughtfully)—sophisticated girl… not a poet” (Hansberry 97). By saying that he doesn't want Beneatha to be “a poet” but would rather a “ simple sophisticated girl” he is only further distancing himself from having a chance with Beneatha. The reason this distances him from ever having the the potential of a relationship with her is because he completely disregarded who she is as a person and only cares for how she looks. This is extremely superficial and shows the reader that George only values how he presents himself to the world and how he doesn’t value

On another date with George, Beneatha wants to talk, but George does not want to talk with her and would rather they kiss. When Beneatha does not reciprocate this desire, George rants about his dissatisfaction with the nature of their relationship and their conversation. He whines, “It’s simple. You read books— to learn facts— to get grades—to pass the course—to get a degree. That’s all—it has nothing to do with thoughts” (Hansberry 97). George looks past the process of life and focuses on the end result and how it will push him forward in life. This is the very opposite of how Beneatha sees the world. Beneatha is studying to become a doctor, a very ambitious position, but she is not doing it for the money she will earn, she is doing it because she loves medicine and wants to help others. This need to help others is a similar trait she shares with her other beau, Asagai. While the Younger’s are moving to their new house, Asagai comes to console Beneatha about the money Walter lost. They soon get off topic and begin to discuss Asagai’s home and his dreams for the place. He says, “ I will go home and much of what I will have to say will seem strange to the people of my village. But I will teach and work and things will happen, slowly and swiftly” (Hansberry 135). Asagai is learning so that he can help others to learn. He is studying in a foreign country