A Raisin In The Sun

it would be comfortable and well ordered if it were not for a number of indestructible contradictions small apartment, old and worn out, they have done everything to make it look descent

Travis- living room Mama & Beneatha- another room Ruth & Walter- one room

because he wont get up out of bed and get a shower. and because he had friends over the night before and kept travis up

she turns away from him, ignore's him

50 cents

she said she doesnt have any

to get himself some fruit/ taxicab

open a liquor store

she wants to be a doctor

walter says she could be a nurse or get married beneatha hopes mama does not give him money

full bodied and strong. she has a certain grace and beauty to her. early 60's

she makes his bed

walter needed an opportunity to be successful

he loved children

1.horse back riding 2.photography 3.play acting

no intention of marrying him, enjoys dating him, and she feels he's shallow

arguing over the existence of god

she collapses on the floor

They were affluent and active in politics

After he experienced racism(bricks thrown at house), he won against the Supreme Court. He later wanted to move to Mexico, but he died of natural causes.

Attended University of Wisconsin: she was good at humanities, but not science or math

-She met ROBERT NEIROFF in New York(she had recently moved their to write to a newspaper) -In 1964, they were divorced, but remained friends

He thought that B.E. grammar doesn't change as frequently like slang. He also thought it is just as sophisticated as other languages

Isn't the only language to not conjugate "to be"

-Commonly used between Spanish and English -Speaker generally adjusts to the audience

Came from slaves in the plantation south

Used to be good, but is currently worn. They have: -No Yard, 3 small bedrooms, community bathroom, Travis is on the couch, too crowded

Own liquor store

Mutilate's it ("White people hair")

They are neighbors, she "borrows" their stuff, jealous of them when they think of moving

He offers them money to buy the house from them

They originally thought they should take it, but in the end Walter refused the offer

They are poor: they rent, they have one window, and are in a run-down area. (Rat scene)

-Ruth was mad at Walter -Walter sees Ruth as limiting

-Bennie doesn't like Ruth wanting her to marry George for money

-Bennie doesn't like how Mama wants her to marry George for money -Mama doesn't like how Bennie talks bad about God

Ruth doesn't like how Mama parent/spoils Travis

-Sassy -Disrespectful -Selfish -Only man of house at the end -He feels like no one cares about him

-She is modern: Wants to be a female doctor,living for herself -She stands up for herself -She is independent-she feels like her family is holding her back

-She is serious about her parenting role -She feels trapped in her everyday life -She wants the best for Travis -She wants to get out of her everyday routine -She doesn't want Walter to get her hopes up

-"Head of house" -Mother to everyone -Opinionated -Wise -Wants to live somewhere else

She trys different things, and she is independent

Doesn't really care but tired of her switching activities

Thinks it ruining family

Most important thing

Isn't that involved, but secretly wants Walter to have it

Wants it for her school

-Mama is angry because she thinks freedom is better than money, and wants Walter to know that -Walter is ungrateful

-Uncle Tom: black man who is loyal to white men -Prometheus: demigod, claimed to have stolen fire from Olympics and taught men how to use it

-Goes to New York-has money to travel -White shoes are clean to show that he doesn't do dirty work(fancy preppy clothes) -More like white than black

- Mrs. J is as destructive and dangerous -Mrs. J represents people people who tear you down- she tears down other African Americans -Bennie says she is as dangerous as the KKK

-"You people" -Special community problems -Never says doesn't like blacks

-From welcome community but never welcomes them -Says race prejudice isn't a part, but that's the only reason he's there

-Motif -It shows Mama's hoped for future- to get garden -Mama takes care of it even though its narrow/one window(like how she takes care of family when times are hard)

-Beginning: not man of the house -End: Mama steps down and Walter takes control

-Hansberry implies that pride and dignity aren't bought, but earned -Love's bonds are stronger than money -It's impossible to love people, even though they make mistakes

wants to become a doctor

is pregnant

needs a yard to play in

dreams of improving life

buys a house

takes the family's money

student from Nigeria

cares little about his heritage

represents Clybourne Park Improvement Association

waits for partner in vain

The Younger family moves to a new house.

Beneatha respects her brother

Mama intends to use some of the insurance money for her daughter's college education.

Walter is happy when he learns that Ruth is expecting another child.

Mama expects her children to be proud.

Mama feels that Ruth is not good enough for Walter.

Walter wants to use the money to buy a grocery store.

Walter gives Mama's money to Bobo.

Joseph Asagai wants to marry Beneatha.

Ruth makes a down payment on an abortion.

Walter makes the final decision that the family will move.

Mama's family gives her garden tools as a gift.

George believes that being attractive is all a woman needs.

Mama leaves the apartment without even a backward glance.

Mama's plant needs a better place to grow and develop.

Mama realizes that there is always something left to love in a person.

The time of the play is just before World War II.

Beneatha has a deep faith in God.

After the money is lost, Ruth gives up the idea of moving.

The story takes place in a poor area of

Mama receives money from

Walter's attitude changes when

Walter's father loved

Willy Harris

The New Neighbors Orientation Committee wants to

Mama believes love is most important when

Beneatha thinks the money

The Youngers decide to

Ruth and Walter's marriage improves after

Walter thinks he can solve the money problem by

The title of the play is taken from a poem by

As everyone is leaving, Mama returns to

After the failure of Walter's business, he makes a frantic telephone call to

One of Mama's prized possessions is her

Mama slaps her daughter because Beneatha

Mama is upset when the check comes because she

In light of Mr. Lindner's visit, Walter's teasing Beneatha about black pride and civil rights is an example of

Walter enjoys playing the game of African chief with Beneatha because he

Walter accuses his mother of having

By giving Walter money and control over it, Mama is symbolically

Lorraine Hansberry

Chicago's Southside; sometime between WWII and 1959

Langston Hughes's "A Dream Deferred"

amount of money the Youngers receive from Big Walter's death insurance

Alaiyo, Nigerian word that translates to "One for whom bread -- food -- is not enough

giving up one's own heritage to embrace the culture of a dominant group

The flawed protagonist. Wants to use the insurance money to open a liquor store.

Mama's daughter and Walter's sister. In college, and better educated than the rest of her family. She wants to be a doctor. She has had many hobbies; Afrocentrism is her latest cause.

Walter and Beneatha's mother. She wants to use the insurance money to get a house in a better neighborhood. She worries about her family falling apart.

Walter's wife and Travis's mother. She is caught in the middle of the fight over the money. Discovers she is going to have a baby and considers an abortion.

Walter and Ruth's young son. Eager to help his family. Plays outside with the rats. Sleeps on the sofa because there is no room.

Nigerian student who is dating Beneatha. Proud of his African heritage, wants Beneatha to return to Nigeria with him.

Wealthy African-American man who courts Beneatha. He ignores his African culture and is becoming absorbed into the white culture, which makes him an assimilationist. He and Beneatha argue about this.

The only white character in the play. Tries to pay the Youngers NOT to move into an all white neighborhood.

A friend of Walter and coordinator of the liquior store plan. Ruth frequently criticizes him.

The setting for A Raisin in the Sun. Specifically, the southside.

The white neighborhood where Mama plans to buy a house.

Walter Lee's job.

Mama's job.

a scraggly, unhealthy plant that symbolizes the unhealthy state of Mama's family, because they live in such a bad environment

a period in American history when blacks moved North to escape the Jim Crow laws and prejudice of the South.

laws that restricted the rights of African Americans and enforced segregation.

An agreement within clubs, neighborhoods, etc., prohibiting the inclusion of minority groups (usually blacks, Jews, or Asians).

the first play on Broadway that was written by an African-American woman

An idea of success that usually involves owning a house, being able to provide a better life for your family and attain certain material objects.