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Samples2.pptA Raisin in the Sun:
Act II Study Guide
Author: Lorraine Hansberry (1930 – 1965)
- Born in Chicago
- Studied at University of Wisconsin,
Art Institute of Chicago, and
Roosevelt University
- In 1938 her family moved to a white neighborhood and faced a violent attack from neighbors
- Court forced Hansberry family out of the neighborhood – case brought to supreme court Hansberry v. Lee
- “A Raisin in the Sun” won the
New York Drama Critics’ Circle
Award for Best Play
- Wrote “The Sign in Sidney
Brustein’s Window” in 1964
- Both plays include racial issues
Author: Lorraine Hansberry (1930 – 1965) Cont.
Summary: A Raisin in the Sun:
Act 2, Scene One
By Lorraine Hansberry
- Act two starts with Beneatha wearing a Nigerian outfit and dancing to Nigerian music from the phonograph. Walter comes in, drunk, and joins in on the excitement with his sister.
- George, Beneatha’s wealthy boyfriend, then comes in to pick up Beneatha to go see a play. While they wait for Beneatha to change her outfit Walter tries to convince George to start a business with him, to which George rudely declines. It says, “Walter: […] Me and you ought to sit down and talk sometimes, man. Man, I got me some ideas… George: [With Boredom] Yeah – sometimes we’ll have to do that, Walter” (956). This sarcastic response offends Walter.
- After George leaves with Beneatha, Walter opens up to Ruth and they talk about their relationship. Their conversation is interrupted by Mama as she comes home and announces that she put a down payment on a house in a white neighborhood. Walter is bitter at the fact that Mama did not give him the money for him to invest on the liquor store.
Summary: A Raisin in the Sun:
Act 2, Scene Two
By Lorraine Hansberry
- Scene two opens two weeks later with Beneatha and George arriving at the Younger residence after a date. Beneatha tells George to leave after he refuses to talk to her and explains to her that the only purpose of reading and going to school is to get a degree. Mama enters and Ruth enters shortly after Mama. Ruth discovers that Walter has missed work for three days. Walters explains that he has spent the past three days driving around during the day and drinking at a bar during the night.
- Mama then gives Walter the money left over from the down payment on the new house and tells him he needs to put three thousand dollars in the bank for his sister’s collage fund and he can use the rest for whatever he wants.
Summary: A Raisin in the Sun:
Act 2, Scene Three
By Lorraine Hansberry
- Scene Three is the moving day. It starts with Ruth and Beneatha finishing packing their things while they joke and laugh with each other. Walter enters and he as well jokes with the two. Then, Karl Linder comes and ask to speak to the Younger residences. Linder is from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association and with the New Neighbors Orientation Committee. On behalf of the organizations, Linder offers to buy the Youngers new house from them. Walter refuses the offer and kicks Linder out of their home.
- Mama then enters, and the Youngers give her a gift of gardening tools for her future garden at their new house.
- Walter’s friend then comes and tell Walter that the money that he invested into the liquor store was stolen by a friend of theirs. Walter reveals that he did not put money in the bank for his sister’s collage fund and explains that he spent it all on the investment for the liquor store.
- The lost devastates Walter. It says, “Man… [He starts to pound the floor with his fists, sobbing wildly.] That money is made out of my father’s flesh…” (980).
Analysis Paragraph
Once Walter learns that his money he invested into the liquor store was stolen he reveals that he did not put any money in the bank for his sister’s collage fund, showing his belief that the liquor store would fix their money problems. It says, “[Lifting his head slowly.] Mama . . . I never . . . went to the bank at all . . .” ( Hansberry 980). When Walter does not put any money in the bank for his sister it reveals a lot about his character. Walter was convinced that the liquor store would be the investment that would save his family from being poor. Walter believed this so much that to him, putting money away for his sister would not help anyone. Walter believed that if he put the most money he could into the liquor store he could get the biggest return out of his investment, therefore obtain more money for his sister’s collage fund and his family expenses.
Quotations for Examination and Discussion
- “Mama: Fixing my plant so it won’t get hurt none on the way…
Beneatha: Mama, you going to take that to the new house?
Mama: un-huh-
Beneatha: That raggedy-looking old thing?
Mama: [Stopping and looking at her.] It expresses me” (975).
- “Walter: [Stares at the money.] You trust me like that, Mama?
Mama: I ain’t never stop trusting you. Like I ain’t never stop loving you” (966).
Documentation:
Works Cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. “A Raisin in the Sun.” The Norton Introduction to Literature. 11th ed. Ed. Kelly J. Mays. New York: Norton, 2013. 1199. Print.
“Lorraine Hansberry.” Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 02 Mar. 2015.
Richardson-Jones, Spencer. Blaisdell, Hannah. “Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965).” The Norton Introduction to Literature. 11th ed. Ed. Kelly J. Mays. New York: Norton, 2013. 1199. Print.
