allusions in a raisin in the sun act 2

Mrs. Johnson says white folks in Chicago are acting like the ones in Mississippi. Free trial is available to new customers only. Means that you should forgive and forget about it when someone disappoints you. How do Beneatha, Ruth, and Walter react to Mr. Linder's appearance at the door? Dive into a thorough description and analysis of Act 1: Scene 1 and Act 1: Scene 2 of this production . Lorraine Hansberry's father was a successful real estate businessman; apparently, the Murchison family of Raisin is equally successful, for Walter refers to the Murchisons' purchase of a big hotel on the "Drive." Mama turns over the money. The three of them are shocked to see a white man. Shaka Zulu incorporated into his own army the warriors from defeated tribes; he also established military towns in order to ensure that his armies were well provided for and excellently trained. 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. 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 Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# nationalist movement intellectual point of view but that she does George is pedantic, showing off his knowledge, when he says to Walter (after he is safely half-out the door), "Good night, Prometheus.". She refuses to be taken only as a nice-looking girl, demanding recognition as an independent-minded young woman whose ideas are to be valued. prominent Chicago resident, Hereros of Southwest Africa: the Hereros Timbuktu, once the center of learning, became a tiny desert town, important only because of its history. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. A Raisin in the Sun: Act 2 What would you do if you suddenly came into more money than you ever thought possible? Mrs. Johnson's implication is that it is easier to survive the blatant racism of a 1959 southern town than it is to be prepared for the hidden, and therefore more dangerous, racism of the urban ghettos. Walter cannot seem to stop, though, and the more he talks to Travis about his dream, the bigger the dream gets. It means that Asagai is proposing to Beneatha, Beneatha tells Walter Lee he is a prophet leading them out of the wilderness. It's not education he doesn't believe init's education for women. Because Beneatha is not accustomed to African dress, she does not "wear" it properly. Extremely hard working, he attended school at night. inspired by the former, founded in 1915 1. Garbo: legendary actress of 1930s; Prometheus As noted later in the character analysis of Walter Lee Younger, George Murchison's reference to Prometheus fits Walter's fiery personality, along with several other parallels. He also says that Beneatha is a bit too "moody" and artistic; he tells her that he didn't ask her to go on a date with him to discuss her "thoughts.". By the 1470s, Songhai had become the largest and richest country in Africa, boasting the city of Timbuktu, which was the center of learning and trade for the Muslim world. Hughes was a prominent Black poet during the 1920s Harlem Renaissance in New York City, during which Black artists of all kindsmusicians, poets, writersgave innovative voices to their personal and . George calls Walter Lee "Prometheus" in order to subtly insult Walter, but mainly to point out Walter's lack of learning. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . 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. Beneatha uses George's weak attempts to change her personality as the excuse that she needs to end their relationship. lead lives of quiet desperation." He thinks 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.". A RAISIN IN THE SUN By: Lorraine Hansberry ACT II SCENE ONE Time: Later the same day. This alludes to Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor who tried to take over Europe. Mama is not moving to Clybourne Park because she wants to integrate a neighborhood; instead, she simply wants the best deal for her money. Beneatha intellectualizes everything, is clearly independent, does not defer to men, and argues whatever points of chauvinism she finds in her conversation with men. Blacks began to "choose sides," debating constantly over who was right, and over which philosophy was actually in the best interest of black people. Allusions/Essential Terms in A Raisin in the Sun. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. The "Drive" to which Walter refers is an expressway along a scenic stretch of land a large sprawling park or a river view; in whatever city, this would be expensive property. Five years later, in 1935, after Selassie had offered his people a written constitution and educational and administrative reforms, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia and occupied the country until 1941, when the British forced the Italians out, and Haile Selassie returned to his throne. Beneathas exploration of her African heritage and her entrance with her afro and Nigerian garb were perhaps the first such appearance on an American stage. The Man / Capn Boss / Mistuh Charley 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." Act 2, Scene 3 He is overwhelmed and his sudden exuberance over this financial windfall leads him to share some of his many fantasies with Travis. Impact- Beneatha is saying that if she A Raisin in the Sun: Act 2, Scene 1 Summary & Analysis Next Act 2, Scene 2 Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis That evening, Ruth is ironing and listening to the radio when Beneatha enters "grandly" from her bedroom, wearing the robes and headdress that Asagai gave her that morning. 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 We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. The insurance money again functions as a wedge that drives the family members farther apart. Why do the Youngers decide to go through with the move? 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. The rulers of Mali established the Muslim religion that had come out of Arabia and was sweeping throughout Africa. SWA 3 - Short Writing Assignment to prepare for writing an essay in English. Booker T. Washington Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) was one of the most influential black leaders during the period immediately following Reconstruction (1865-77). 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. Hansberry's description of Walter as he chants to the African music with Beneatha includes a reference to Shaka Zulu, or Chaka: "On the table, very far gone, his eyes pure glass sheets. Mrs. Johnsons imagined headline gives voice to the Youngers own worst fears about the outcome of their move, and also imply that Mrs. Johnson doesn't want to see the Youngers thrive or do well in a way she herself isn't. As Mama tells Ruth, Big Walter finally worked hisself to Walters unspoken approval of Ruths decision shows that he still fails to meet Mamas expectations for a man. It means that George thinks Walter Lee is trying to take money from the rich, superior people to share it with the poor, inferior ones. Beneatha alludes to the KKK when Ms. Johnson is racist towards their own kind. In Timbuktu, men and boys (only) studied at its great university, utilizing to great advantage its many active libraries and books on history, medicine, astronomy, and poetry. Bantu is the largest language family and Swahili (which consists of Bantu and Arabic) is the most widely spoken. She is simultaneously showing off her PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. some Middle Eastern traders settled there, Ethiopian history cites Queen Makeda of Ethiopia and King Solomon as being the parents of Menelik I who, during his reign, founded the kingdom of Ethiopia in 10 B.C. Advancement of Colored People, is a civil Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. 8), B. Drop the Garbo routine When George Murchison admonishes Beneatha to "drop the Garbo routine," he is telling her to know her "place" as a woman. Mrs. Johnson criticizes the pride that Beneatha takes in her education, which Mrs. Johnson believes is excessive. Thirty pieces and a not a coin less!: of Mrs. Johnson's intent is clearly to belittle the importance of the Youngers' getting away from the horrid conditions of their cramped apartment. winking for . Opines that home alone ii and rapid fire were my only qualms about the play. An opportunity for the family to escape the poverty comes when the family receive an 10,000 insurance check. 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. Ruth finds Beneathas pageantry silly and questions her about it. ? In Beneatha and Georges conversation, Hansberry reveals two sets of values regarding education. Using garment catalogs, compare sizing charts. When George Murchison refers to Walter Lee as "bitter," Walter Lee agrees that he's bitter; Walter also wonders how George can be content having to live as a second-class citizen in spite of his wealth and not be bitter himself. They are fair game and PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. If his family is going to end up in a comfortable home, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. This alludes to the slaves brought here from Africa. Meanwhile, Ruth falls in the middle of this debate, possessing neither Georges social standing nor Beneathas fierce dedication to a largely foreign cultural identity. The inexcusable complicity of the Africans in the heinous slave trade, however miniscule it might have been, is often exaggerated perhaps in an attempt to assuage guilt over the grand scale involvement in the violation of human rights by all those connected with the Atlantic slave trade. Ruth is apprehensive, almost frightened, when she hears that the new house is located in the all-white neighborhood of Clybourne Park. Menelik II is also responsible for relocating the capital at Addis Ababa and for modernizing the operation of government. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Mama says this to Travis as she tells him about the house that she is planning to buy. Liberia Why should you consider care needs be fore buying a garment? He's got a conked head A "conked head" refers to a hairstyle adopted by some black men during the forties and early fifties. In 1889, Sahaba Mariem rose to power in Ethiopia, ascended the throne, and changed his name to Menelik II, signifying blood ties to Menelik, Makeda's son. The coastal people who had once been ruled by empires in the interior soon began to trade slaves and gold for firearms and ammunition since lances, spears, and arrows were no match against the rifles and cannons of the Arabs and Europeans. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Beneathas two suitors embody this dichotomy between the conflicting identities available to Black people: the identity that seeks assimilation and the identity that rejects assimilation. Embarrassed, Ruth explains that the white shoes are part of the college style. George obviously looks down on Waltercalling him Prometheusand Walter gets even angrier at him. A frustrated and angered Mama retaliates by calling him a fool. Mrs. Johnson leaves the apartment. Walter explains that he has been wandering all day (often way into the country) and drinking all night (at a bar with a jazz duo that he loves). Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. groups. Now, rather than insisting that she can't understand her children, Mama is trying to support them. . Why does Mama buy a house in an all-white neighborhood? In his "Atlanta speech," Booker T. Washington urged blacks to cultivate friendly relations with white men. This also marks a change in Mama, brought about by the harm she sees that she has done to Walter. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Another allusion Hansberry uses talks about Adam and Eve. The radical nature of the Youngers desire to participate in the American dream does bring along some hardship. Everyone is shocked, amazed, and slightly disappointed with Beneatha, prompting a fierce discussion between Beneatha and George about the importance of their African heritage. She dances around the apartment, claiming to be performing a tribal dance while shouting OCOMOGOSIAY and singing. Why does Lindner try to convince the Younger family not to move? She compares, for example, the overt racism of the south at that time with the covert racism found in the north. They ground the work in a specific time. Ghana, Mali, and Songhai were the three greatest of the many empires that flourished in West Africa, yet all that remains of these advanced civilizations of past great wealth and strength are relics of ruins and the tales of ancient travelers. Sadly, the people of Benin began to involve themselves in the lucrative Atlantic slave-trade selling captured rival prisoners to Europeans and Americans. Mama asks for their understandingit was the only house that they could afford. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. Although it is documented that as early as the first century B.C. This means that African Americans are ignorant about Africa. Walters communion with his African identity centers on regaining the lost status and majesty of African leaders, which was stolen from many African-Americans through the transatlantic slave trade.