Character Analysis: Beneatha's Journey in 'A Raisin in the Sun'

This essay delves into an analysis of Beneatha's character in Lorraine Hansberry's renowned play, 'A Raisin in the Sun.' It explores Asagai's gift of the nickname 'Alaiyo' and its significance to Beneatha's intellectual and identity-seeking journey. The essay contrasts Beneatha's aspirations with those of George, highlighting her rejection of assimilation and embrace of her African heritage. It further examines Beneatha's life goals of becoming a doctor and establishing herself as an educated African-American woman, contrasting her ambitions with her brother Walter's materialistic pursuits and indifference to her dreams. The analysis references specific instances from the play to support its claims, providing a comprehensive understanding of Beneatha's role and motivations within the narrative.

Running head: ENGLISH LITERATURE
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Name

1ENGLISH LITERATURE
Table of Contents
Question 1............................................................................................................................2
Question 2............................................................................................................................3
References............................................................................................................................3

2ENGLISH LITERATURE
Question 1
A Raisin in The Sun is one of most celebrated works of the eminent African-American
writer and playwright, Lorraine Hansberry. In Act I, Scene II of the play in discussion, Asagai is
observed to have been gifting Beneatha some colorful robes and discs. He had visited the
household on Beneatha’s invitation. Asagai, while departing the house, gifted Beneatha with
another gift. This gift was not materialistic in nature. Asagai gifted Beneatha with a nickname.
The nickname was ‘Alaiyo’, a term from one of the tribal languages of Africa. Asagai later
explains that the term means ‘One for Whom Bread – Food – Is Not Enough’ in English
(Hansberry). The nickname might be considered to be an appropriate gift for Beneatha. This is so
because Beneatha as well Asagai have been wanting something that is more than just the basic
sustenance of life. The characters in discussion tend to seek out for a better quality of life that is
beyond the mere existence within the given conditions.
This gift feeds the beliefs and the views that are shared by the intellectual character of
Beneatha. The gifts tend to help in the matters that pertain to the struggle that is undertaken by
Beneatha in order to realize her dreams of being a doctor as well as helps her form a separate
identity as a well-educated woman of the African origin (Hansberry). However, this is in contrast
to the character of George, a very wealthy person of African-American origin who has been
vying for the hand of Beneatha. Beneatha does not like the willingness of George for the
submission to the fair-skinned people and in the process forget the African heritage that he has
been inheriting by birth.

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Question 2
The life goals that have been set by Beneatha are noble as well as intellectual in nature.
Beneatha dreams of being a doctor and is observed to have been struggling to put forth her
identity as an intellectual and well-educated person from the African backgrounds. The character
in discussion is depicted by the playwright to be better educated than the rest of the members of
her family. The personal views and beliefs that she possesses tends to distance her from her
mother who is depicted to be a traditional lady (Hansberry). The struggles of Beneatha in order
to establish herself as a well-educated member of the society has been depicted very well in the
play entitled, A Raisin in The Sun.
However, the life goals that have been set by Beneatha of being a doctor and establishing
herself as a well-educated member of the society is not acceptable by her brother Walter. Walter
unlike his sister Beneatha does not aim to challenge the system. He is observed to have been
trying to use his entrepreneurial skills in order to climb up the ladder of success (Hansberry).
Walter spends the amount of money that he had been instructed to keep aside for the educational
purposes of Beneatha. The protagonist of the play, Walter is depicted as an individual who is
indifferent towards the goals and the lives of the other members of the family and only interested
in his own benefits.

4ENGLISH LITERATURE
References
Hansberry, Lorraine " A Raisin in The Sun ". England: Benediction classics, 2017.