Mostafa Darwish
Mrs. Mullins
English 11 H
Dec 10, 2021
A Raisin in the Sun Act 2 and 3 QQNS
The act starts with Beneatha dancing a Nigerian dance and doing an African ritual, Walter
arrives home drunk and he starts dancing with Beneatha. George Murchinson arrives and he is
shocked when he sees Beneatha’s hair and that she cut it off and made it natural, and they start
arguing about African identity and culture. Walter talks business plans with George who is not
interested and looks down on George, Walter makes fun of his white shoes. After George leaves,
Ruth and Walter fight about Walter outings and spending time with people like Willy, then they
make up. Mama arrives and tells them she has bought a new house for them in claybourne park.
Walter is shocked and feels betrayed, they are also worried about the location as it’s an all-white
neighborhood. Mrs. Johnson comes to visits the Youngers, and tells them about a black family
who were bombed out of a white neighborhood, she insults them by calling them a “proud acting
bunch of colored folks”. Walter’s boss calls Ruth and tells her that he hasn’t shown up for work
in three days, he tells her that he is depressed and has been wandering for three days and
drinking at nights, Mama feels guilty and gives him the remaining sixty five hundred and tells
him to put thirty hundred in the bank for Beneatha’s education. Walter gets excited and starts
dreaming about the future. As the family is celebrating and Mama is presented with new
gardening gifts, Bobo knocks on the door and tells Walter that Willy has run off with the money.
Walter decides to accept the money for not moving, but when Mr. Linder arrives, he changes his
mind and says they are moving.
Questions:
1. How will the Youngres handle the loss of the money?
2. Will beneatha still be able to go to medical school?
3. Will Walter ever find Willy?
4. What will happen when they move to the white neighborhood?
5. Will the Youngers’ struggle continue?
Quotes:
“Yes, child, there’s a whole lot of sunlight.” (page 95) Mama answers when Ruth asks her if
there is a lot of sunlight which is a symbol for hope.
“Honey … life don’t have to be like this. I mean sometimes people can do things so that things
are better … You remember how we used to talk when Travis was born … about the way we
were going to live … the kind of house … (She is stroking his head) Well, it’s all starting to slip
away from us …” (page 91) Ruth is reminding Walter of how optimistic they used to be.
“I know that’s what you think. Because you are still where I left off. You with all your talk and
dreams about Africa! You still think you can patch up the world.” (page 133) Beneatha is
hopeless and doesn’t share Asagai views.
"Asagai, while I was sleeping in that bed in there, people went out and took the future right out
of my hands! And nobody asked me, nobody consulted me – they just went out and changed my
life!" (page 134) Beneatha thinks that her being a female makes it harder for her to have a future.
"Just tell me where you want to go to school and you'll go. Just tell me, what it is you want to be
– and you'll be it… Whatever you want to be – Yessir! You just name it, son… and I hand you
the world!" (page 109) Walter is optimistic because of the business deal he has made with willy
and Bobo.
Notes:
presumably probably; reasonably supposed
rebuffs bluntly refuses
revelation some new information; news
desperation condition of being driven to take almost any risk
exuberance having unrestrained high spirits; being overjoyed
amiably good naturedly
ludicrous laughably ridiculous
coquettishly in a manner befitting a woman who flirts with men
arrogant overbearingly proud; haughty
eccentric deviating from the established norm, model, or rule
oppressive tyrannical
cliche trite or overused expression or idea
sarcastically in a manner using statements or implications
plaintively sorrowfully
menacingly threateningly
