What does the statement, "Eat your eggs," symbolize?
The eggs symbolize Walters dreams and hopes, Ruth is telling him to no longer dream. To give
... [Show More] up
Why do you think Mama likes the plant so much? How is the plant like Mama's children and Mama herself?
Mama's plant represents the family's deferred dreams that struggle to survive under the strain of life in the southside.
What does Asagai give Beneatha as a gift? Why is Beneatha pleased with these gifts?
A nigerian robe and records. She is pleased with them because she is still trying to find herself and with it she can find out more about her heritage.
What does Beneatha's mutilated hair symbolize?
The assimilation to white people's culture
What do the Nigerian robes and records symbolize?
The robes represent the African culture, their heritage. The Records symbolize her embrace of her African heritage culture
Who is George Murchison?
Rich African American man who Beneatha is going out with
Who is Joseph Asagai?
He is a school friend of Beneatha and an African intellectual.
"He is a lean, intense young man in his middle thirties, inclined to quick nervous movements and erratic speech habits-- and always in his voice there is quality of indictment" (Hansberry 25).
Walter
"She is a woman in her early 60's, full bodied and strong. She is one of those women of a certain grace and beauty" (Hansberry 39).
Mama
"She is about twenty, as slim and intense as her brother. She is not as pretty as her sister in law, but her lean, almost intellectual face has a handsomeness of its own... Her speech is a mixture of many things; it's different from the rest of the family's insofar as education has permeated her sense of English" (Hansberry 35).
Beneatha
"About 30, we can see that she was a pretty girl, even exceptionally so, but now it is apparent that life has been little that she expected, and disappointment has already begun to hang in her face" (Hansberry 24).
Ruth
"A child, a sturdy, handsome little boy of 10 or 11" (Hansberry 25).
Travis
A white character, representative of the Clybourne Park Improvement association that seeks to dissuade the youngers from moving to its all-white neighborhood.
Karl Lindner (Mr. Lindner)
Beneatha states, "Enough of this assimilationist junk!" (Hansberry 760). What does she mean by this statement?
She's tired of trying to blend in with white society. She's proud of showing her heritage
How does George react to Walter and Beneatha's performance and Beneatha's attire? What does this reveal to readers about the contrast between George Murchison and Joseph Asagai?
George is disturbed by her attire and he's making fun of her clothing and it shows he has become an assimilationist. It also shows he's a foil to Joseph Asagai.
Walter states, "Man, I'm a volcano. Bitter? Here I am a giant-- surrounded by ants! Ants who can't even understand what it is the giant is talking about" (Hansberry 85). What does this statement reveal about Walter and his dreams?
It reveals that Walter has big dreams but no one listens to him. He feels like he's about to explode because his dreams are belittled by the little ants
Explain the irony in Beneatha's statement: "This, friends, is a Welcoming Committee!" (Hansberry 118).
It's ironic because he told them they are not welcome to the community
When asked about her plant, Mama states, "It expresses me" (Hansberry 121). Explain the significance of the diction that she employs in this passage. How is the plant, at this point in the text, a symbolic representation of the Younger Family?
It represents Mama, it's a symbol of their dreams because the plant doesn't get much sunlight, yet, it is still living and it shows how they have persevered
What news does Bobo deliver to Walter? How will this affect the family?
Bobo tells walter that Willy took the money and left. This affects the family because they won't be able to move in
According to Asagai, Beneatha should be grateful to Walter. Why?
She should be grateful because it makes her work harder to get her dream. Dreams and goals are only worth achieving if she works hard for it
Walter states, "What's the matter with you all! I didn't make this world! It was given to me this way! (Hansberry 143). Explain the significance of his statement. What theme does Lorraine Hansberry elucidate in this passage?
He didn't get to choose for his life to be that way, that it's not his fault. It develops the theme that the American Dream is limited to certain individuals
Beneatha states that Walter is "no brother of mine" (Hansberry 145). Why does she make such a proclamation?
Because he's so willing to take away his own pride just to get money. She's disappointed in him, he lost all sense of pride and betrayed his race
Mama states, "There is always something left to love. And if you ain't learned that, you ain't learned nothing...Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most? When they done good and made things easy for everybody? Well then, you ain't through learning -- because that ain't that time at all. It's when he's at his lowest and can't believe in hisself' cause the world done whipped him so!" (Hansberry 145). What themes does Lorraine Hansberry elucidate in this passage?
It demonstrates the development of the theme that having unconditional love can help overcome any obstacle by being there for each other
When Mr. Linder arrives, what does Walter inform him?
That they decided to move into their new house because his father earned it all for them
Mama states, "Travis you stay right here. And you make him understand what you doing, Walter Lee. You teach him good. Like Willy Harris taught you. You show where our five generations done come to" (Hansberry 147). How does Travis' presence motivate Walter to make his final decision regarding Mr. Lindner and the home in Clybourne Park?
It was an opportunity to be a man and he's supposed to be a role model for him
At the conclusion of the play, Mama discusses the evolution of Walter Lee Younger: "He finally come into his manhood today, didn't he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain" (Hansberry 151). What does Mama mean in this statement?
That he has changed from an insecure person and finally became a man
When Mama compares Walter Lee to "a rainbow after the rain" (Hansberry 151). What is the significance of this simile? What does the image of the "rainbow" after a storm demonstrate to readers about the Youngers' future?
It demonstrates that after all the negative events that occured, they still persevered even through tough times to achieve their dream. The rainbow also implies a better future
The play ends with Mama coming back for her plant. What does the plant symbolize? Why do you think Hansberry chose to end the play this way?
The plant symbolizes strength and hope that the family has and how it persevered through many rough events. It also represents the family's dreams and how the family persevered, just like the plant will continue to persevere [Show Less]