Andrew Roby

English 1B
Professor Brenda Harker
Assignment 1
6/19/2012
Beneatha is one of the main characters in A Raisin in the Sun. She has a brother, Walter, a mother,
known as Mama, a sister-in-law, Ruth, and a nephew, Travis. These five characters live in an apartment
together. Beneatha is a spirited young woman who is going to college to become a doctor. Beneatha
possesses the typical traits of a young student. She possesses much energy and fervor for her studies.
Often she takes ideas from classes and friends at college and brings them home, where they are viewed
as radical ideas.
Beneatha is from a modest background and her parents were not college educated. So from what we
know, she is the first person in her family to attend college. Despite this, Bennie (Beneatha) is very
ambitious and has set her mind on becoming a doctor. This dream of becoming a doctor reveals a theme
of Hansberrys. The theme is empowerment. Bennies dream of becoming a doctor falls under an
empowerment theme because she is of the generation of African Americans who dared to be more than
their parents. This is the generation that fought for Civil Rights in America. And though there is no
mention of the Civil Rights struggle in the first scenes, Walters question to Bennie reveals this mood of
this era. Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy bout messing round with sick
people then go be a nurse like the other women or just get married and be quiet I.i.38. This quote
from Walter reveals that Bennie is going to school in an era where women still face the hurdle that
many jobs have a gender label on them. Obviously a doctor is a male profession and a nurse is a female
profession. But Bennie is a spirited women which represents the spirit that many women who fought for
suffrage must have had in that time. This is evidenced by her sarcasm, And forgive me for ever
wanting to be anything at all! FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME! I.i.37.
Walter and Bennie do not get along because they are both strong willed. Bennie is determined to
become an intellectual. Walter is determined to find a get rich quick scheme. Ironically both dream of
a better future for themselves and their family. If they both could learn to listen to and work with one
another they might succeed in bringing harmony to their household and bringing their dream of upward
mobility to fruition. I believe Bennie and Walters problems lie in their miscommunication which may be
a symptom of another issue. So far Bennies education cost has surfaced as an issue. I.i.36. Walter
accuses Bennie of not being appreciative of the sacrifices the others have made to support her
education. Bennie is not sensitive to his point that their mother should spend her insurance money on
one of his schemes because she believes that money is their mothers to spend and hers alone. I agree
with Bennie on this point because she is working to something positive for her future, and as long as she
stays focused will be in a position to provide a better future for the family. I also agree with Bennies
point that a liquor store investment is not one to support because the family has not enough money to
support itself should that investment not pan out and be profitable. I believe an analysis of risk and
reward would reveal that Walters liquor store idea is not one for a family of honest hard-working
laborers. But I do believe Bennie could do a better job at being sensitive to Walters situation. Though
she does this casually and in a teasing manner, she identifies Walter as being a nut. Ruth and Mama
also identify a changing dark mood that is seemingly consuming Walter. I believe if Bennie can use her

critical thinking skills she applies to her studies she could find a better way to relate to her brother who
is obviously stressed by his responsibilities and his limitations. Bennie, unlike Walter has the privilege of
expanding her universe and ideas by socializing with other intellectuals. She also has the freedom to
pursue romantic interest. By contrast, Walter goes to work every day and comes home to his wife and
child. His only social activities are hanging out with his buddies, drinking, playing card, and discussing
schemes. It seems Bennie has a sort of contempt for her older brother and this is probably what she is
so hard on him when he discusses his schemes with her.
Beneatha is the symbol of the Black Enlightenment Movement which stemmed from the Harlem
Renaissance because of her display of intellect on a diverse range of topics. Beneatha challenges the
conventional thought on spirituality, a womans role in the family, the definition of beauty, and reveals
her thoughts on the effects of colonialism in the African American culture and her passion for healing.
She also reveals her feelings of her idea of a suitable courter. Bennies character is supposed to be a
challenge to mainstream white society to pay attention to the problems its prejudices are creating for
the nation especially for the minority groups in America. Of course in the story Bennie does not
challenge any White person directly, but by Hansberrys use of Walter who espouses what many White
men believed was the role of a woman, she is able to use Bennies character to inform her audience that
women deserve much credit for the civilization of mankind. Hansberry also uses Bennie to highlight
African pride and colonialism as two themes, with the former being the protagonist and the latter the
antagonist. Bennie has a discussion with her friend, Asagai, who tells Bennie her natural form is
beautiful. At first Bennie is reluctant to accept this, but by her date with George, she is not only able to
accept this idea, but is able to gain praise from George for her new look. And because George is sort of
a symbol of an African American who is trying to fall in love with American ideals, this is a triumph.