beneatha

beneatha

Beneatha’s Dream
The play “Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry is basically all about dreams - individual dreams held by each of the characters as they try to contend with difficult and sometimes overwhelming circumstances in their lives.    
Beneatha, the daughter of Lena Younger (Mama) and the sister of Walter Younger, is a confident, articulate college student who continually promotes modern ideas and perspectives on race and religion, challenging the more traditional views of the other Younger family members. Beneatha’s liberal views are frequently the source of friction between her, Walter and Mama.
Mama: “’Course you going to be a doctor,   honey, God willing.
Beneatha: “God hasn’t got a thing to do with it.”
Mama: “Beneatha, that just wasn’t necessary.”
Beneatha: “Well - neither is God.   I get sick of hearing about God.”
Act 1, Scene 1, Pg. 1209
Beneatha is a fiercely independent young woman who likes to experiment with various forms of expression in every aspect of her life.   She has tried guitar lessons, horseback riding,   play acting; each experience undertaken with enthusiasm but shortly loses her interest as she reaches for a new one.   This experimentation even extends to her   relationships with two very different men from very different social worlds, each of which has very different viewpoint on life.   George Murchison is rich, educated, has a
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home and is primarily interested in fitting into white culture.
George: “I know it and I don’t mind it sometimes… I want you to cut it   out, see- The moody stuff, I mean. I don’t like it. You’re a nice   looking girl… all over. That’s all you need, honey, forget the   atmosphere. Guys aren’t going for the atmosphere- there going to   go for what they see. Be glad for that. Drop the Garbo routine. It   doesn’t go with you. As for myself, I want a nice simple,   sophisticated girl…not a poet- ok?”
Beneatha: “Why are...