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Question
directions: answer the following questions in complete sentences. if a quote is necessary, be sure to cite it in mla format. example: \eat your eggs, walter\ (hansberry 34).1. look at the description of the setting at the beginning of the play. find one quote that could be a symbol for the youngers life or situation. write the quote and explain how it is a symbol.2. describe the first interactions between ruth and walter. what seems peculiar about their relationship? why, do you suppose, that they interact with each other this way?3. read the stage directions for travis on page 29. jot a few words that stand out to you from these directions. what can we infer about travis based on these directions?4. after walter gives travis fifty cents for school, the stage directions indicate that
uth watches both of them with murder in her eyes. walter stands and stares back at her with defiance, and suddenly reaches in to his pocket again on an afterthought\ (hansberry 31). what happens next? what does this tell you about ruth and walters relationship?5. read the description of beneatha when she enters on page 35. what sets her apart from her family?6. why do you suppose walters dream of owning a liquor store is so important to him? look beyond the financial benefits.7. mama says \lord, if this little old plant dont get more sun than its been getting it aint never going to be spring again\ (hansberry 40). assign some symbolic significance to this.write a prediction for what you believe will happen in the play:
- The opening stage direction "a living room tired of being a living room" (Hansberry 21) symbolizes the Younger family's stagnation and exhaustion from their cramped, unchanging, unfulfilling life in the small apartment; the space, like their circumstances, has been worn thin by unmet needs and lack of growth.
- Their first interaction is tense and distant: Ruth is practical and focused on routine (like getting Walter to eat his eggs and go to work), while Walter is irritable, dismissive of her concerns, and fixated on his own unmet ambitions. Their dynamic is peculiar because it lacks warmth—they communicate more like roommates negotiating a chore than a loving couple. This comes from financial stress eroding their connection, and Walter's resentment that Ruth does not validate his dreams, while Ruth is worn down by the constant struggle to keep the family afloat.
- Standout words from Travis's stage directions: "small, quick boy," "scampers," "direct and unembarrassed." We can infer Travis is a lively, resilient child who has adapted to the tight quarters of the apartment; he is comfortable and unselfconscious in his home, even with the family's stress, showing a youthful innocence that contrasts with the adults' worries.
- Next, Walter gives Travis an extra fifty cents, despite Ruth's anger. This shows their relationship is defined by conflict over priorities: Ruth is focused on the family's immediate financial stability, while Walter wants to assert his role as a provider who can give his son small joys, even if it is imprudent. It reveals underlying tension between their approaches to parenting and money, with Walter defying Ruth to feel in control.
- When Beneatha enters, she is described as wearing "a bright red flannel nightie" and has "natural hair" (Hansberry 35), which sets her apart. Unlike her more practical, traditionally dressed family, her bold clothing and rejection of straightened hair signal her embrace of her Black identity and her refusal to conform to mainstream or family expectations; she is also vocal about her desire to become a doctor, a non-traditional career for a Black woman in the era, further separating her from her family's more limited aspirations.
- Walter's dream of owning a liquor store is important beyond money because it represents his desire to gain power, respect, and a sense of purpose. As a Black man working as a chauffeur for a white man, he feels emasculated and trapped by a system that limits his opportunities. Owning his own business would let him be his own boss, provide for his family in a way that makes him feel proud, and break the cycle of generational poverty and powerlessness he has inherited.
- Mama's plant is a symbol of the Younger family. Like the plant, the family is surviving but thriving: it is kept in a small pot, lacks proper sunlight, and is "little old," just as the family is cramped in the apartment, denied opportunities (the "sun" of upward mobility), and worn down by struggle. Mama's care for the plant mirrors her care for her family; her hope that the plant will get more sun and bloom represents her belief that the family will one day have the space, opportunity, and support to grow and flourish.
- I predict the Youngers will face fierce pushback from the white neighborhood when they try to move into their new home, testing their unity. Walter will likely make a risky choice with the insurance money, possibly losing some of it, which will cause a rift in the family. However, they will ultimately come together to stand up for their right to the home,…
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- Quote: "a living room tired of being a living room" (Hansberry 21). This symbolizes the Younger family's stagnant, unfulfilling life in their cramped apartment, where the space and their circumstances have been worn thin by unmet needs and lack of growth.
- Their first interaction is tense and distant: Ruth focuses on routine and practicality, while Walter is irritable and fixated on his own unmet ambitions. Their dynamic is peculiar because it lacks warmth, as financial stress and Walter's resentment of his unfulfilled dreams have eroded their emotional connection, making them communicate more like frustrated roommates than a couple.
- Standout words: "small, quick boy," "scampers," "direct and unembarrassed." We can infer Travis is a lively, resilient child who has adapted to the apartment's cramped space, with a youthful innocence that contrasts with his parents' stressed, serious demeanor.
- Walter gives Travis an extra fifty cents, defying Ruth's anger. This shows their relationship is defined by conflicting priorities: Ruth prioritizes immediate financial stability, while Walter wants to assert his role as a provider who can give his son small joys, revealing deep tension over money and parenting, with Walter defying Ruth to feel in control.
- Beneatha's bold red nightie, natural hair, and her goal of becoming a doctor set her apart. Her clothing and hairstyle signal her embrace of her Black identity and rejection of conformity, while her ambition to be a doctor (a non-traditional path for a Black woman in the era) shows she has larger, more progressive aspirations than her family's focus on basic survival.
- Walter's dream is about more than money: it is his chance to gain power, respect, and purpose. Trapped in a demeaning job as a chauffeur for a white man, he feels emasculated and powerless; owning a liquor store would let him be his own boss, break the cycle of generational poverty, and prove he can provide for his family in a way that makes him feel proud.
- Mama's plant symbolizes the Younger family: it survives but does not thrive, stuck in a small pot without enough sunlight, just as the family is cramped in their apartment, denied opportunities for growth, and worn down by struggle. Mama's care for the plant mirrors her care for her family, and her hope for the plant to bloom represents her belief the family will one day have the chance to flourish.
- I predict the Youngers will face violent or hostile pushback from the white neighborhood when they attempt to move into their new home. Walter will likely risk and lose part of the insurance money, causing a family rift, but the family will ultimately come together to defend their right to the home, choosing unity and dignity over defeat. Beneatha will also reaffirm her commitment to medical school, finding a way to pursue her dream despite the family's setbacks.