These scenes really build on the previous ones. The main events that occur include Bennie's relationship with her boyfriend and Asagai, Ruth becoming pregnant, and the insurance check coming in.
The audience is already aware that Beneatha has a boyfriend, but the status of their relationship is not really known until these pages. Before we are told that information however a new man is introduced, his name is Asagai and he is a student visiting from Africa. Asagai has recently returned from visiting his family and he brought Beneatha a present. She opens it to find a traditional piece of African clothing that used to be his sisters. Beneatha loves it. Asagai must have really known what Bennie would like as a present. The main reason he comes over to her house however is to discuss their relationship. Before he left he wanted to become her boyfriend, but Bennie thought that the timing was not right. Now that he is back he wants to continue his quest.
The problem with this is that she is already seeing a guy named George. George is very different from Asagai. Asagai is more in touch with Bennie's feelings and really understands her. George's family has a lot of money, but does not give Bennie what she desires. Beneatha and George get in an argument when he comes to pick her up for a date. They are going to the theater and Beneatha has decided to wear the clothing that Asagai brought her. She has also cut her hair very short and has not straightened it or anything. George does not like this at all. He seems to be very worried about what other people will think about him if they see him with her. He makes her change. I found it interesting that Beneatha cut her hair mainly to because of comments Asagai made even though she knew George would not approve. I think this shows that she really doesn't care about her relationship with George. It will be interesting to see how the two relationships progress. I can't see Beneatha and George staying together much longer if they don't change.
A baby is the topic of the next important event. There had been foreshadowing earlier in the play that led me to believe that Ruth and Walter might be having a baby. This in fact turns out to be the case. The audience learns that Ruth is two months pregnant, but she has already put a down payment on an abortion. She doesn't say why she has done that, but it must be because she feels like they can not care for another child. They can barley afford and care for the one they have now. Mama is very against the abortion and makes herself known. She challenges Walter to step up and be a man like his father. She wants him to put his foot down, be strong, and tell Ruth that she will not get an abortion and that they will find a way to provide for the new child. Mama wanting Walter to be like his father is a major issue in the play. She always compares him to his father, but Walter doesn't take compare to his father, at least not yet. They both have different characteristics.
I think the biggest event that occurs is the arrival of the insurance check. All along this has been on all of the characters lives. They all of plans on what it will do for them or how it will help their family. Mama takes the money and ends up spending $3,500 on a down payment for a house. The rest she gives to Walter. She tells Walter that it is his time to step up and be a man. He needs to take charge of the family. She orders him to take the rest of the money and use it for what he thinks will benefit the family the most. The only condition is that he must save $3,000 for Beneatha's school.
Buying a house is important for Mama because it has always been her dream. I think she also decides to buy it because she hopes it will stop Ruth from having an abortion. Now that they have more space in their new home the baby will not be in the way. The only problem with the new house is that it is in a white neighborhood. Recently their have been bombings of blacks' house in white neighborhood. The whole family is a little scared about what the reaction will be.
Act 2 scene 2 ends with Walter taking to Travis about what the money will do for their family. He makes up an elaborate story. I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen. People don't get rich over night like Walter thinks is possible. I hope I'm wrong, but the way things are going it doesn't look good.
No comments:
Post a Comment