drama response 200 words

In this opening act, the reader is introduced to the setting, the main characters, and to the plot.  Hansberry tells the reader that , " The action of the play is set in Chicago's Southside, sometime between World War II and the present (late 1950s  to early 1960s)" (pg.22). What is the significance of this time period? What is the significance of having the play set in the southside of Chicago? What does this setting represent during this time period?

The play opens in a small apartment where the Younger family lives. Hansberry provides a detailed description of the apartment in Scene 1. She writes:

                      The Younger living room would be a comfortable and well ordered room if it were not for a number of indestructible contradictions to this state of being. Its furnishings are typical and undistinguishable  and their primary feature is now is that they have clearly had to   accommodate the living of too many people for too many  years-and they are tired... Now the once loved pattern of the couch upholstery has to fight to  show itself from under acres  of crocheted doilies...And here 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...Weariness has, in fact, won  in this room...All pretenses but living have long vanished from the very atmosphere of the room....The single window that has  been provided for these "two" rooms is located in this kitchen area. The sole natural light the family may enjoy in the course of a day is only that which fights its way through this little window ( Act 1, Scene One; pgs. 23-24).

How can one in a few words describe the apartment? What kind of atmosphere does the description of the apartment convey? What does the apartment say about the people who live in it? Also, where is the family's bathroom? Where does Travis, the young boy, sleep? As you read through  the text, think about why does Hansberry have the majority of the action take place in the apartment.

                     After the introduction of the setting, Hansberry presents the main characters. The reader immediate encounters Walter and his wife Ruth at breakfast (pgs 25-35). How would you describe Walter and Ruth's breakfast conversation?  Does their conversation reveal anything about the state of their marriage? Walter and Ruth's son, Travis, is also present in this scene. He asks his mother for 50 cents, but she refuses to give it to him. However, when Travis tells Walter, Walter gives the boy a dollar (pgs. 30-31). Why does Walter give Travis the money? What are Walter and Ruth's attitudes toward money? 

                   Returning back to Walter and Ruth's conversation, it begins to focus on the $10,000 life insurance money that Walter's mother, Mama/Lena, will receive on account of her husband's, Big Walter, death. For what does Walter want the money? When Ruth tells him that the money is his mother's, and not theirs, what is Walter's attitude? What does Walter's  attitude reveal about him? Does Ruth understand him?

                   Walter's sister Beneatha enters the room and immediately ends up in an argument with Walter. Pay particular attention to her name, for names have meaning.  The reader sees that Beneatha refuses to assist Walter in getting the $10, 000 from their mother. However, Walter accuses her of conveying the money for herself. In the heat of their argument, Walter belittles Beneatha's desire too go to college to be a doctor. He states, "Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor ? If you so crazy 'about messing' round sick people-then go be a nurse like other women-or just get married and be quiet..."(pg.38). What does Walter statement reveal about his attitude toward women? 

                   After the combative exchange between Beneatha and Walter,  Lena (aka Mama) enters the scene. In parenthesis, the narrator gives a lengthy description of Lena. What does this description convey about Lena (Mama)?  Next, we see Lena interacting with Ruth, discussing Travis' welfare. What does this conversation reveal about Lena? 

                   Later in the conversation, Ruth and Lena discuss the $10,000 life insurance check that Lena is to receive. What is her attitude about the money? What does Lena want to do with the money? Why does she refuse to invest in Walter's dream to own a liquor store? 

                  While still talking with Ruth, Lena remembers her husband, Big Walter. Although Big Walter is dead, he is still present in the play. You may want to think about the significance of Big Walter to the overall meaning of the play.

                  Beneatha joins the conversation, and through her conversation with Lena (Mama) and Ruth we learn about Beneatha's character from the women's discussion of Beneatha's social activities and  the topic of marriage. The conversation reaches a climatic end when Beneatha declares that she does not believe in God. As a result of Beneatha's statement, Lena slaps her and makes her repeat, "In my mother's house there is still God" (pg.51). What does Lena's violent reaction to Beneatha's remarks about God reveal about Lena?  

                 Scene Two opens with Ruth informing Lena and Beneatha that she is pregnant. Later, she will reveal that she is contemplating having an abortion. Why does Ruth contemplate terminating her pregnancy? What is Walter's attitude toward Ruth being pregnant? What both the others' attitudes?

                 In this same scene, we meet Beneatha's friend, Joseph Asagai, a student from Nigeria. How does Assagai affect Beneatha? What do you think is his role in the play? You may want to review the video biography about Hansberry.

                 At the end of the scene, the $10,000 check arrives. As soon as Walter knows the check has arrived, he immediately causes a conflict in the family. Why does Walter become upset?  Why does he yell out, "WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!" (pg.70)?  Is the conflict about money or is there a deeper conflict? Pay particular attention to the conversation between Lena and Walter.