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A Raisin In The Sun Respect Analysis

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The Importance of Exchanging Respect The people can pick up a relatable and compared desire if they read A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry or listen to Aretha Franklin’s song, “Respect.” A little respect can go a long way. Anyone who has experienced respect knows that feeling of love and appreciation it brings. The book and song both demonstrate the importance of respecting and supporting the people close to us.
Beginning with the respect from a standpoint of intellect and individuality is the character of Beneatha. Beneatha wants to be able to chase her dream of becoming a doctor free from family disapproval and discouragement. In a conversation between Beneatha and her brother, Walter, he states, “I’m interested in you. Something …show more content…

The only one in the family who actually seems to have ever encouraged Beneatha through all of this is Mama. Another example is when Beneatha changes up her appearance. George, Beneatha’s guy friend, starts off the conversation by gasping, “what in the name of. . .what have you done to your head--I mean your hair”(Hansberry 80). Everyone in the room thinks that Beneatha’s choice to cut her hair short is ridiculous. If there was any family respect for Beneatha, that respect level has just dropped lower. She just desires to be able to make her own decisions without being ridiculed by her own family. Next, the reader can recognize which guy would suit Beneatha best. On Beneatha’s last date with George, he says, “I don’t like it. You’re a nice-looking girl . . . all over. That’s all you need, honey”(Hansberry 96). From this date, the reader sees that George could care less about Beneatha’s feelings, emotions, and words. All George wants is her image and beauty. This is no respect that Beneatha deserves. On the other hand, the reader was also introduced to her other guy friend, Asagai. Asagai is a …show more content…

Walter wishes for approval and trust. Beginning with his friends, Ruth has not respected Walter’s friend choices throughout the play. Willie and Bobo are the friends; they all share the same dream. Walter asks his mother for financial support to help him chase his dream of opening up a local liquor store with his buddies. Mama puts her foot down by saying, “I don’t ‘low no yellin’ in this house, Walter Lee. . .there ain’t going to be no investing in no liquor stores”(Hansberry 70). Yes, this was her husband’s death benefit, but she could have treated Walter with more respect. He is a grown man in charge of a family. Additionally, Walter has providing for her his sister Beneatha and his Mama. Mama needs to quit babying her son and start guiding and trusting him. Walter would love that. Yes, Walter was stolen from when given 6,500 dollars, but he had no clue that he was going to get robbed. The white neighborhood could have easily ripped off and stole money from Mama. Walter is truly defeated from this robbery. His vision was focused on providing a better income for his family through opening up the liquor store. Aretha Franklin understands Walter’s feelings when she sings, “I ain 't gonna do you wrong while you 're gone,” in her song “Respect.” Walter does not intend to harm the families’ lives by taking charge of the money to open up a small business. Being in

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Hansberry makes the characters have a tough life so when they achieve what they want, it’s a greater reward than someone who had an easy life. The main reason Beneatha changed so much during this play because of how people treated her. Beneath goes through major changes in the play. One of the main reason she does is because of Asagia. Asagia is a friend of Beneatha and is from Nigeria.

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, But are consistently being differed. Lena Younger, otherwise known as, “Mama” is Walter and Beneatha’s mother and the head of the household. With her deceased husbands ten thousand dollar insurance check Lena bought a three thousand-dollar house with a garden where her family would be happy and hopes to save the rest of the money for Beneatha’s medical school. Lena’s dream, “ Festers like a sore” and is the only dream that somewhat comes true.

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Mama made a decision that put Walter in charge of the remaining money, however she did not know that this decision might not have been the best for the Younger family. Walter was hesitant in taking the money, but Mama reassures Walter by saying, "I ain't ever stop trusting you" (Hansberry 546). This line from Mama foreshadows the possibility that Walter will not obey her and do something foolish with the money. Walter proves this foreshadowing as he is talking to Travis and says, "... your daddy's gonna make a transaction... a business transaction that's going to change our lives" (Hansberry 547).

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Walter feels his job is more than unsatisfying, and can not make Mama understand, since her simplistic views are just like Ruths. In spite of his personal inadequacies with his job fulfillment, Walter shines in the end of the story with understanding and growth of his own fathers not so wonderful job. Walter seems to be reflecting on his own status as a

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Walter uses his male privilege to put Beneatha down. Beneatha battles being underprivileged at home and in society by defying odds and choosing her own path. According to the matrix of domination, Beneatha being an African American woman shows that in order for her to have full privilege she has to deal with both the isms. The social construction of difference has produced racism and sexism and connected them and society has used them to justify

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Beneatha wants to study to become a doctor, but instead Walter Lee wants to spend his family’s insurance money so he can open a liquor store with Willy and Bobo his friends and be a man. Since Walter Lee and his family were in a bad position and were very poor it was Walter Younger’s responsibility to keep the family together and he saw this a very big responsibility. He frequently complained about being a chauffeur and ridding rich people, every day when he woke up in the morning. He would always fight with his wife Ruth, Mama and his sister Beneatha. For instance (Hansberry 32-34) he says to Ruth his wife “You tired, ain’t you?

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In this way she expresses herself, but would never have done so without the provocation of Asagai. He also rebukes her need for her father’s insurance money to continue her education. He shows her that her dream of attending medical school is still going to be fulfilled without the insurance money, as it was never promised to her before she conjured up that dream. Advocating for Beneatha to finish her educational journey to become a doctor is another way he develops her confidence and wants her to become all she can be. Asagai believes she is the epitome the New World can offer: an educated, stubborn, beautiful black woman who owns her own heart and constantly betters her mind.

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”(Hansberry 96 ). Beneatha is often confronted by Asagi, about how she is assimilating to an oppressive culture. Asagi tells her to stop trying to fit in, to be proud of her African roots, to embrace them, “White-black in this you are all the same.” (Hansberry 64) Beneatha desires to be different from those in her generation.

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George’s negative outlook is something that he received from his upbringing. When George puts down Beneatha’s interests and tells her that thinking is not required of her, he simultaneously shows that he is unhealthy in his relationship with Beneatha and that his unhealthiness comes from his upbringing. The unhealthiness comes from his upbringing because George, taught as a higher class, learned that it wasn’t necessary for his happiness, therefore he thinks that Beneatha does not need it

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She puts a lot of effort and time in trying to get an education for herself and learn how to be her own person. Beneatha does not want to be with George because she feels that she will not be able to fulfill her dream of being a doctor. For example, “But if the Younger’s are sitting around waiting to see if their little Bennie is going to tie up the family with the Murchisons, they are wasting their time” (Hansberry31).Beneatha wants to be a hardworking woman and this connects to the American Dream because hard work is a big component of achieving what you want. Also, she does not want George Murchison stopping her from being a hard-working woman. She does everything by herself and puts her hard work into everything she does.

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The world stereotypes rich people as rude, stuck up and selfish. Ever wonder why? Studies from Yale, The New York Times, TED and more have concluded, money changes everything. Whether it’s attitude, morals or values, money can affect and change all aspects of someone’s life. The play, A Raisin in the Sun, has a theme showing this claim clearly.

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She defies the ideal life for a woman and expresses her opinion loud and clear. Beneatha throughout the play finds herself and her African American roots. Walter does not approve of Beneatha’s hopes to become a doctor he tells her, “If you so crazy ‘bout messing ‘round with sick people---then go be a nurse like other women---or just get married and be quiet. . .” (1.1.125) These social issues that the characters faced in their lives made them out to be the people that they were meant to be.

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Beneatha dreams to be a doctor, which is a male-dominated profession. She says, “I am going to be a doctor and everybody around here better understand that!” (Hansberry 33). This shows her feminist attitude in the play when Beneatha takes a largely optimistic stance when facing troubles of entering a male-dominated profession, implying that she is a ‘non-conformist’. Additionally, Beneatha refuses to “just get married and be quiet” (Hansberry 22), as her chauvinistic brother, Walter Lee, expects her to be.

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Walter’s statement tries to tell the women that he didn’t try to make the world the way it is now. Yes, he wants luxurious items for him and his wife. However, even though he seriously messed up, he’s still the man in the family and will continue to make the decisions for the

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In Act 1, Beneatha’s quest to find her personal identity is seen in the way she expresses herself, her ambitions, her roots and the way she deviates from what is acceptable in her family. She tries to find ways to express herself such as trying different hobbies. In the past, Beneatha has been a part of a play-acting group, horseback-riding club, and in Act 1 starts guitar lessons (47). She also has the ambition to become a doctor which is looked down upon by her brother, Walter Lee (38). Additionally, her African roots are important to her search for identity.

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