ABC's of a raisIn in the sun Stella mae lanuti
Alayio is the name that Joseph Asagai gives Beneatha. Alaiyo is a Nigerian name and it means,"One for Whom Bread-Food-Is Not Enough". This is very true to Bennie's character as nothing will every satisfy her. She has tried countless things such as taking guitar and horseback riding and now she is studying to be a nurse. These efforts have been done in hopes of finding something to give her a sense of belonging and identity.
Beneatha is the first character we see struggling to find her identity. She is a black woman surrounded in a white world and she is finding it hard to decide who she is. In the beginning she flattens her hair and wears it long to accomodate to the white culture around her, but later crops it and wears it untamed to show loyalty to her roots. Her friend and later love interest, Joseph Asagai, brings light to her Nigerian culture. Bennie becomes fascinated with her ancestry and to show loyalty to her native culture she crops her hair and in act II scene I she is seen chanting,"Alundi, Alundi...." a Nigerian chant/song. She is so desperate for something to tie her down and help give direction to her lost identity, even so that Joseph Asagai notices her desperation for her Nigerian roots and calls her an assimilationist.
Cycle. The Younger family has found themselves stuck in a continuous cycle. Every morning the Youngers go through their routine, Ruth asks, "what kind of eggs do you want?" then Walter responds,"Not scrambled" but even after his response she continues to scramble them. This question almost seems rhetorical, as this question has become beaten down and no matter what Walters answer is Ruth was used to making scrambled eggs. This cycle they are put into is making them feel stuck as if they are chasing their own tails. Ruth is one of the characters that seems to been affected most as she has now assumed the title of "a settled women". Joseph Asagai is the only character that has called out any one of the Youngers for their way of living. In an exchange between Beneatha he tells her, " a circle-it is simply a long line...one that reaches infinity... because we cannot see the end- we can also not see how it changes." His words were in hopes of encouraging her and were trying to tell her that it's your choice on how your life plays out and how failures can create success. Beneneatha was still in her circle like mind and feels stuck in the "one large circle that we march in,around and around." This repeating circle has made the Youngers "explode".
Dreams deferred is a reference to Langston Hughes Poem,"Harlem." His poem is about postponed dreams and there effect on a person. Every character in the play has some dream that they have had to put on hold. Each character at some point or another will experience the events mention in Langston Hughes poem. Mama has always wanted a house but she could not afford one therefor her dream was set away. When the time was right mama inherited money and was able to fulfill her dream. Before this dream was granted Mama's dream "fester[ed] like a sore." It sat and waited and rotted and then finally sagged on her shoulders like a heavy weight even so that she could not forget her dream of a house.
Economic standpoint. The economic standpoint of the Youngers plays a role in shaping some of their emotions and personality. Since they do not have a lot of money, the money has to be spent wisely. Ruth is more frugal and cautious with the money as for when Travis needed money for school Ruth didn't give him it. Travis growing up with a lack of an abundance for money realized at an early age that he would need to provide for himself. He begged his mom to let him work so he could get some extra money. Although the Youngers may not realise it, their financial standpoint has played a large role in their personalities.
Family is a key and recurring theme in the play. Because of the Younger's financial status they were forced to live under one roof for some time. By doing this they have grown close. Whether they want to be or not the Youngers know that family is one of the most important things in life as family will help you know matter how bad you messed up. If it wasn't for the close bonds between the family, they would not get the opportunity to move into a house or be where they are now.
Glamorous. Walter believes that his liquor store investment will lead him to a glamorous life and will allow him to finally be the provider of the family. He thinks that his "business transaction" will provide him a "black Chrysler" and a "house...[with] the Gardner...clipping away at the hedges."He also believes that this investment will title him the provider of the family. He will finally be able to buy Ruth a "Cadillac convertible" and give Travis any school or anything that he pleases. Although his belief of a glamorous world is quite misleading from the truth. His belief is that he won't have to work and that all will be handed to him is an error, as for any successful person knows that hardwork is the only way to success.
Home is not only a place you live in but a place that can shape a person to who they are now. The Younger's house in the beginning consisted only of,"a table or a chair has been moved to disguise the worn places in the carpet; but the carpet has fought back by showing its weariness, with depressing uniformity, elsewhere on its surface." Their original house represented their past and sorrow and despair. Although when they moved, their new house represented far more than a shelter but instead a home fulfilled with dreams and a future.
Importance is a characteristic that almost every member of the Younger family strives to have. Walter wants to feel important as he thinks that it will make him equally deserving of the rights that white men have. The Youngers want to be as important as the white men that fill their world, and want the right to live in a white neighborhood. The Youngers having importance would give the justification of the social hierarchy of them moving to a white class neighborhood.
Joseph Asagai is a key character as he brings another perspective on African culture to the Youngers. Since the Youngers desire respect amongst the white class they have simotanusly changed there ways and have started to change to the white culture. When Joseph comes into the play he provides a contrast to the Youngers since he is a direct decent from Nigeria. He had a great impact on Beneatha and called her out on her changed ways saying that she "mutilated" her hair, in doing so his words made her retreat back to some of her ancestors ways. His character helps the Youngers, Beneatha in particular, realise that they have lost their original culture while trying to gain the respect of the higher (white) class.
Kindhearted. Mama is a kindhearted character. Throughout almost all of the play her calmness and kindhearted spirit have helped most of the characters at one point or another with a internal war that they have battled. When she was introduced she had a "certain grace and beauty." When Ruth was trying to decide what to do with he baby she was there and "was trying to relax her." Her kindhearted spirit and gentle soul help give a sense of safety to the Youngers.
Light vs. dark is a recurring and important motif throughout the play. Besides its quite literal meaning, the white race versus the black race, it also has several other interpretations including hope and despair. The Younger's home is described having a "morning light [that]comes in feebly." This is referring to a sliver of hope that is left. On a more literal reference, the Youngers throughout the play have been battling this silent war between the black race and the white race. Mr. Linder is a character that challenges the internal strength of the Youngers. The social hierarchy has created issues with the Youngers buying their new home in an all white neighborhood. Mr. Linder offers the Youngers a large sum of money in exchange for their house since he doesn't not feel comfortable with a black family in the neighborhood. This is one of the major race battles that the Youngers are seen fighting.
Money. Money is something that the Youngers have always desired. Their desire has led their lives and even at points made them desperate. In their world money resembles far more than a house or a car but rather equality, power and respect. Mama confronts Walter after he starts to spiral downwards because of money. She expresses her frustration with her son, "money is life...freedom used to be life-now its money." Walter is one of the main characters that gets consumed in money. For him having money would make him the provider of the family and also give him respect amongst the white class. For the Youngers money has found its way into their life and has begun to control them.
Nagging. Ruth is seen throughout the play nagging Walter. Although nagging has negative connotations Ruth is doing it for Walters best interest. Walter being and idealist needs Ruth to help counter act his character. One of Ruth's soul purpose is to be Walters other half. Ruth is trying to show Walter reality and even though it seems like nagging she is doing it in fear of him getting hurt. Ruth wouldn't give Travis money for school since she was afraid of not having enough for more valuable things. Although Walter in spite of Ruth's ways he gave Travis double the money he needed. This started a small feud between the two shortly after. Ruth's nagging has helped shape Walter to the way that he is, her ways have been done in his best interest.
Old. Life has caused many of the characters to grow up quicker than usual. "...disappointment has already begun to hang" on Ruth's face as "life has been little that she expected." Another character that is older than they seem is Travis. Growing up "sleep[ing] in the living room" has made him realize that he will have to work for things that he wants. Since Ruth didn't give him money for school he begged her to let him work after school to get money.
Plant. The house plant that Mama tends represents the last sliver of life and hope. Mama's dreams have been on hold for sometime because of her children's dreams. In the beginning of the play she confesses that the plant never gets enough water or light but still grows in her care. In this scene the plant represents her care for children, they never got the necessary things in life that help one succeed, but nevertheless, they are still flourishing. It also shows that her unconditional love in a less-than-perfect environment for flourishing. The plant also represents her dream to own a house and a garden.
Quiet. The Youngers feel silenced by the world around them. During the time period black people were not treated equally. Their rights were silenced, this made them (the Youngers and the black race) want to revolt and "explode."
Racial Inequality. Racial inequality is a major factor in the Younger's life. It is one of the main reasons why they are living in a apartment that barely consists of a few walls. It is also drives some of Walters frustration and makes him want to drink. Because of the color of his skin his business is harder to make a profit out of it since some people would be afraid to buy alcohol from a man with a different skin color. Since the Younger's are a black family it became very difficult to move to a white neighborhood. Racial inequality is the base of almost all of the problems in the play.
Society Roles. Roles created by society have their fair share of importance in the play. In the beginning Walter believes that he is part of "one group of men tied to a race of women with small minds." He believes that women should "get married and shut up" and their duties are to cook and tell the men, "Eat your eggs," clean and tend the children and that it's the mans job to provide for the family. Walter struggles most of the play with trying to gain back his pride, in his mine pride means respect and that is something that he longs for.
Time. Time has aged and worn down the Younger's. Overtime many of the characters have realized that "life has been little" than expected. Walter, being an idealist, had a rude awakening when his business partner ran away with his future,dream, and all of his money. Mama is a wise character as for she has learned overtime that life has many great things, but many awful things as well. At one point the Younger's living room was full of hope and dreams, but with time comes sorrow, things changed and now he room reflected a grey light of despair.
Unity. All the Youngers desire is for the white and black race to unify. The unity between he two races would mean that each group would have each others respect. There would also be no reason for any inequality, everyone would have the right to be treated equally.
Vain. Walter had huge hopes of his investment towards a high grossing business, although when his business partner Willie ran away with his dreams he was left alone with nothing. Although his vain attempt at starting a money making business later led him to rely on his family for support. His final decision to keep the house helped save the family and pull them out of their state of sorrow and despair.
Window. The window is a motif for hope. The light that comes in from the window provides the Youngers with a sense that there is still hope. In the begging the window is described of giving a "feeble" ray of light in the morning. Ruth relies of this light to keep her dreams alive and also to motivate her through her every day life. When the Youngers are moving Ruth asks if there will be any windows with light, this suggests how dependent on hope she is.
Xenophobe. The Youngers are xenophobic as they constantly fear change. Their morning routine stays the same, and every action that they perform seems well rehearsed. This begins to upset Walter and he calls Ruth out on it and pleads her to take a risk for him. This fear of change has restricted the Youngers more and more until they exploded.
Yearning. The Youngers yearn many things thought the book. Although because of their financial state, race, and some other factors there are not able to achieve what they want to. Most of all the Youngers desire to pursue their dreams without he limitations of society.
Zeal. Walter was zealous for his partners Willie and Bobo. He trusted them with his dreams and respected the partnership they had. But trust quickly turned into deceit after Willie ran way with Beneatha's college career and Walters dreams of the future.