Beneatha And Marxist Analysis

To understand literature is to not only understand human nature, but to also understand how the surrounding conditions affect humans. It is often the situation that people are placed in which drives their actions. Individuals that find themselves in disadvantageous circumstances must overcome hardships to live comfortably, and often through these hardships people lose their moral values. Similarly, the Marxist approach to studying literature focuses on how certain economic conditions can affect character’s values and actions. Marxism teaches that wealth is a critical part of society, as without it many opportunities are no longer present. An individual with wealth can go through life leisurely, while a person without it is subject to greater

In the Younger household, religious values are very important as Mama says to Beneatha, “Me and your father went to trouble to get you and Brother to church every Sunday.” (Hansberry 51). The Younger family was taught to believe in God at a young age and to uphold the values stated in the Bible. However, due to their economic conditions the loss of faith is evident as they begin to place a greater value on materialistic wealth than religion. This is clear as Beneatha states, “I’m just tired of hearing about God all the time… Does he pay tuition?” (Hansberry 50). A crucial part of Beneatha’s dream of becoming a doctor requires her to have tuition money. Due to her economic conditions, Beneatha neglects her religious values as she believes that wealth is more of a necessity than God since she requires money to achieve her dream, not God. There is also an apparent loss of religious values as Ruth considers an abortion. The idea of an abortion directly opposes the religious values that Mama imposed on the family as she says, “We are a people who give children life, not who destroys them.” (Hansberry 75). Mama tries to instill this value in Ruth, however, due to the family’s economic conditions, Ruth is unable to support another child. The Younger family live in such poverty that the addition of another child would surely lead to a lower quality of life for both children. Beneatha and Ruth neglect their religious values due to their economic conditions as wealth becomes more essential to life than