SOCIAL INFORMATION
Historical, Biographical, Marxist, Cultural
Some social factors present:
1.Racism
2.Social Status
3.Financial Difficulty
4.Identity
•The Youngers are greatly affected by their social situations and the down turns are prevalent in their daily lives. Their economic status greatly affects their decision making.
Historical Background
-1959- Gained a lot of recognition
-The acceptance of the play shows how there were many movements during that time to relieve African Americans of their social situation such as jobs, homes, racism, and identity.
1.Racism
2.Social Status
3.Financial Difficulty
4.Identity
•The Youngers are greatly affected by their social situations and the down turns are prevalent in their daily lives. Their economic status greatly affects their decision making.
Historical Background
-1959- Gained a lot of recognition
-The acceptance of the play shows how there were many movements during that time to relieve African Americans of their social situation such as jobs, homes, racism, and identity.
Literary Criticism Questions
Historical Critical Questions
•During this time period, racism and segregated neighborhoods were prevalent, African Americans were searching for their African identity like Beneatha, and the struggles of lower class blacks were very real.
Biographical Critical Questions
The author faced a similar situation because she struggled with racial discrimination, and her father bought a house that violated restrictive covenant. Her parents also do not like the term ‘negro’ or ‘nigger’, crossing out negro on her birth certificate and putting ‘Black.’
The author changed the social status of the characters in order to focus on the Black people she cared about the most even though she never lived in a house the way the Youngers lived. Her family was considered rich for their race. She did this in order to fully recognize the life style of the lower class Blacks.
The author reveals her comfort with fellow blacks, choosing to rather represent the lower class blacks rather than the few upper class ones. She also shows the seriousness of the issue since she fully goes into the issues present during her time including social status and racism.
Racism is present when Mr. Linder prevents the Youngers from entering the all white community simply because of their race. The forces are presented as a barrier from obtaining their dream and an incentive to stop them from dreaming any further when offered money.
Characters are in pursuit of dreams from finance like Walter to identity like Beneatha. Although some of the dreams bring problems to the family, the author shows her support of having a larger than life goal by showing how these characters keep moving forward.
Marxist Critical Questions
Economic Issues Present
The family relies on the insurance money of the Big Walter’s death to pursue their dreams. The money is quickly used up when Mama purchases the house and Walter spends the rest, given for Beneatha’s tuition and his dream, on the liquor store which turned out to be gone when Willy betrayed him.
Even before the insurance money, it is very clear that the Younger’s living conditions are exactly well off. Their house is described as a rat trap filled with cockroaches and rats and there is barely any sunlight.
Ruth can’t even afford to give Travis 50 cents in the beginning of the play which was required for school.
Their financial situation is what makes the $10,000 so valuable to them and is why they are so enraptured on how the money is going to be spent. Since the beginning of the play, the check has been mentioned several times. Even Travis is well aware of the importance of the money, “Check coming tomorrow, huh?”
“It ain’t got nothing to do with me. We all feel like that, Walter, Bennie, and me, even Travis.”
Well, what are you going to do it then?”
•During this time period, racism and segregated neighborhoods were prevalent, African Americans were searching for their African identity like Beneatha, and the struggles of lower class blacks were very real.
Biographical Critical Questions
The author faced a similar situation because she struggled with racial discrimination, and her father bought a house that violated restrictive covenant. Her parents also do not like the term ‘negro’ or ‘nigger’, crossing out negro on her birth certificate and putting ‘Black.’
The author changed the social status of the characters in order to focus on the Black people she cared about the most even though she never lived in a house the way the Youngers lived. Her family was considered rich for their race. She did this in order to fully recognize the life style of the lower class Blacks.
The author reveals her comfort with fellow blacks, choosing to rather represent the lower class blacks rather than the few upper class ones. She also shows the seriousness of the issue since she fully goes into the issues present during her time including social status and racism.
Racism is present when Mr. Linder prevents the Youngers from entering the all white community simply because of their race. The forces are presented as a barrier from obtaining their dream and an incentive to stop them from dreaming any further when offered money.
Characters are in pursuit of dreams from finance like Walter to identity like Beneatha. Although some of the dreams bring problems to the family, the author shows her support of having a larger than life goal by showing how these characters keep moving forward.
Marxist Critical Questions
Economic Issues Present
The family relies on the insurance money of the Big Walter’s death to pursue their dreams. The money is quickly used up when Mama purchases the house and Walter spends the rest, given for Beneatha’s tuition and his dream, on the liquor store which turned out to be gone when Willy betrayed him.
Even before the insurance money, it is very clear that the Younger’s living conditions are exactly well off. Their house is described as a rat trap filled with cockroaches and rats and there is barely any sunlight.
Ruth can’t even afford to give Travis 50 cents in the beginning of the play which was required for school.
Their financial situation is what makes the $10,000 so valuable to them and is why they are so enraptured on how the money is going to be spent. Since the beginning of the play, the check has been mentioned several times. Even Travis is well aware of the importance of the money, “Check coming tomorrow, huh?”
“It ain’t got nothing to do with me. We all feel like that, Walter, Bennie, and me, even Travis.”
Well, what are you going to do it then?”
Book Question #3
Describe the relationship of Mama (Lena) with her daughter, Beneatha, and with her son, Walter. What expectations does she have for the future of each? Why?
Mama and Beneatha struggled with the difference of generation gaps. They're unable to understand each other because they come from two different standpoints in life. "Mama: No--there's something come down between me and them that don't lets us understand each other and I don't know what it is." Mama was born during the time where she didn't have freedom and was surrounded by slaves and sharecroppers. Beneatha lived in the era where women started to receive more freedom, more education, and a pursuit of a successful career. Mama is also very religious, unlike Beneatha who's not scared to express her own thoughts and feelings.
"Mama: I just aint going to have you 'round here reciting the scriptures in vain- you hear me?"
Mama represents unconditional love, while Beneatha is judgmental and biased.
"Mama: You must not dislike people 'cause they well off, honey."
"Beneatha: Why not? It makes just as much sense as disliking people 'cause they are poor, and lots of people do that."
Mama and Walter also have different values in life because they come from different generations and went through different events and struggles. During Mama’s lifetime, freedom was life. But for Walter, money is life. Mama and Walter have conflicts because of these differences.
"Mama: Son--how come you talk so much 'bout money?
Walter: Because it is life, Mama!”
Mama and Beneatha struggled with the difference of generation gaps. They're unable to understand each other because they come from two different standpoints in life. "Mama: No--there's something come down between me and them that don't lets us understand each other and I don't know what it is." Mama was born during the time where she didn't have freedom and was surrounded by slaves and sharecroppers. Beneatha lived in the era where women started to receive more freedom, more education, and a pursuit of a successful career. Mama is also very religious, unlike Beneatha who's not scared to express her own thoughts and feelings.
"Mama: I just aint going to have you 'round here reciting the scriptures in vain- you hear me?"
Mama represents unconditional love, while Beneatha is judgmental and biased.
"Mama: You must not dislike people 'cause they well off, honey."
"Beneatha: Why not? It makes just as much sense as disliking people 'cause they are poor, and lots of people do that."
Mama and Walter also have different values in life because they come from different generations and went through different events and struggles. During Mama’s lifetime, freedom was life. But for Walter, money is life. Mama and Walter have conflicts because of these differences.
"Mama: Son--how come you talk so much 'bout money?
Walter: Because it is life, Mama!”