Beneatha Younger Quotes

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Helen Keller once said “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” In “A Raisin in the Sun” by (Lorraine Hansberry), many strong characters emerge that go through the experience of trial and suffering; however, some have attained more strength from these experiences than others. In the play “A Raisin In the Sun”, Beneatha Younger is the strongest character because she is the only one in the family who has independent thought, a different values system, and a quest to search for her identity. One way Beneatha shows strength, is through her independence. One example of this is when Walter said “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so ‘bout messing’round with sick people-then go be a nurse like other women-or just get married and be quiet…,”…show more content…
Beneatha first shows her interest about her identity when she asks Asagai “‘I want very much to talk to you. About Africa.’,”(p.62). Shortly after, As Beneatha draws closer to Asagai, he influences her cultural identity by telling her “Assimilationism is so popular in your country” (p.63); Beneatha then passionately replies “I am not an assimilationist!”. By giving her Nigerian robes and explaining physical attributes about traditional African women, Asagai makes Beneatha come out of her shell and try to embrace her African roots. This demonstrates how Beneatha was determined enough to separate from her “American” culture and focus on only one culture, an element that nobody else in the family achieved. During her search for her identity, Beneatha exhibits strength by facing the pressures of distinguishing both of her
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