A Raisin in the Sun, Act I

Oppression has existed, in some form, for centuries. This text by Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun, exhibits many forms and examples of oppression. However, I took particular notice to the oppression of women. I noticed several examples of this happening throughout the Act, some more direct and apparent than others. A Raisin in the Sun was written nearly forty years after women gained their freedom as equal citizens and yet, they continued to be marginalized.

Initially, I only noticed the more apparent examples of oppression. For example, Walter speaking to his younger sister, Beneatha, saying, “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy ‘bout messing ‘round with sick people – then go be a nurse like other women – or just get married and be quiet …” (Hansberry, 38). Asagai speaks similarly to Beneatha. He claims that there is only one type of feeling that can exist between a man and a woman. However, Beneatha disagrees saying that those feelings, by themselves, are not enough for her (63). Ultimately, she wants more but Asagai retorts with one of the most oppressive lines in the entire Act – saying, “For a woman it should be enough” (63).

Upon closer read I was able to catch some of the subtler ways that women were being marginalized throughout the Act. For example, Beneatha wants to go to school to be a doctor, she also plays the guitar, took horseback lessons, and took photography lessons. In modern days it is not out of place at all to see a woman doing all of this. However, in 1959 people did not react the same as they would now. The women encouraged her, excited that a woman would be taking these risks and standing out; while the men reacted in a very different way, believing these things to be silly pass times. Another subtle example occurred when Ruth and Walter were having an argument. Walter, feeling like his wife is not on his side, yells at her saying, “This is what is wrong with the colored women in this world … Don’t understand about building their men up and making ‘em feel like they somebody. Like they can do something” (34). At first, it simply sounded like he was mad that she didn’t agree with him but then I noticed that this seems to be what he believes a woman’s sole purpose is. That they are owned by their men and that their only purpose is to build their men up. This may not be the intent of the line but regardless, it shows a very specific example of the marginalization of women in the 1950’s.

Despite this oppression and marginalization that was clearly occurring throughout this Act, the reader/audience can clearly see the little ways in which these women rebelled. The way that Beneatha explains her many hobbies saying, “I don’t flit! I – I experiment with different forms of expression – ” (48). She fights for her identity and her freedom to express herself through any means that she desires. Another prime example is when Ruth is contemplating an abortion. Mama explains this to Walter by saying, “When the world gets ugly enough – a woman will do anything for her family. The part that’s already living” (75). Mama is trying to explain how strong women are and how they will do anything for their families despite the constant marginalization from many of the men.

You can see the little ways that the women in this story fight against this oppression and marginalization. They receive little respect for what they do and yet they continued to fight and to the benefit of our modern generation. I’m not saying that women are completely free of all oppression but I am saying that — because of women like Beneatha, Ruth, and Mama – our generation of women now have the potential to live nearly any life we desire.

Questions:

  1. In what ways might modern women continue to fight against oppression? Are women completely free of marginalization or must the still endure it and fight against it in some aspects of life?
  2. I brought up several examples of how women were oppressed and marginalized throughout this Act. Do you believe that all women were enduring these conditions or were these conditions primarily caused by the financial and racial standing of this family? Use examples from the text to explain your answer.

13 thoughts on “A Raisin in the Sun, Act I”

  1. Hi Harmony,
    I thought your evaluation of the text was very thorough, and your inclusion of some of the more subtle examples of oppression helped to highlight how pervasive of an issue sexism was (and still is). Your inclusion of the quote, “I don’t flit! I – I experiment with different forms of expression…” was particularly powerful, as I think it relates to an issue still prevalent to this day, in which many of women’s “hobbies” are treated as if they were more simple, or not as impressive as their male counterparts. For example, take crocheting. My grandmother was able to make some of the most beautiful, creative, and intricately crafted crocheted blankets that I’ve ever seen. She put dozens upon dozens of hours into each piece she made, and yet they were only ever used to protect the backs of couches. Crocheting is seen as a feminine artistry, and often lauded as a hobby for women to do to keep their hands busy, and thus isn’t appreciated in the way that glass blowing, or even wood carving are, which are both seen as traditionally more masculine art forms. Within the past year, there has been at least one wood carving or glass blowing exhibit showcased at the MoMa. The only example of crocheting to exist in the MoMa within the past 100 years was a painting of the same name (which was done by a man). It’s likely that if crocheting was a seen as a masculine pass time, that if for the past 100 years dads handed their sons their first beers and then showed them how to start the Tunisan stitch, crocheting would be seen as the art form it is, instead as just another hobby for a woman to “flit” from.

  2. I really liked that you decided to focus on the ways women (especially colored women) were and are oppressed in society. It was refreshing to read about Beneatha standing up for herself and fighting back against prejudice and social norms for the time period. The quote from Walter saying, “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy ‘bout messing ‘round with sick people – then go be a nurse like other women – or just get married and be quiet …” (Hansberry, 38) perfectly depicts how women were viewed. A career in nursing was fine, because that was/is a profession predominately held by females. However, a step up to becoming a doctor was absurd; women were not viewed as capable to become doctors, especially since most doctors were men. More than that, Beneatha was told to “get married and be quiet”, not allowing her to have a voice, passion, or goal in life besides what was already predestined for her. I also agree with your views on how Walter marginalized Ruth in the kitchen by saying, “This is what is wrong with the colored women in this world … Don’t understand about building their men up and making ‘em feel like they somebody. Like they can do something” (Hansberry, 34). This quote was almost ironic to me; Walter expects Ruth to have his back and support him through thick and thin, but clearly does not support or uplift women this way. Going off of this, I think women in today’s world are still oppressed and marginalized in the same manner. Women are still not thought of as being as intelligent as men, and I think by women entering into math and science fields (mostly a male dominated area), running for President, and not following the stereotypical idea of marrying and having a family, they are pushing back against social norms and proving that women can do anything. I think that women have and will always face prejudice and marginalization, but the women from this book and of today are constantly proving doubters wrong.

  3. Hi, Harmony!
    It seems as though you and I had the same thoughts while reading the play. I’m glad you pointed out the fact that Walter believe’s a woman’s place is to build her husband’s ego up. When reading, I just thought Walter was mad that he wasn’t getting the support he desired. Now that you’ve pointed it out that it seems he fully believes that that is where a wife’s place is, it becomes more clear.
    I do believe that even in today’s age women still face oppression. There are many examples I could bring up, some even deriving from my small home town. Women still need to fight for the right to be completely equal to men. I believe in the power of words, and the power of youth. We are the people who will be running the world one day, same with those younger than us. Speaking up for basic human rights is a powerful thing, done right.
    I’d like to say that sexism only exists in the lower income classes and minorities. However, if I said that I would be considered naive. It’s not the financial and racial background that makes someone a sexist rather than their upbringing.

  4. Hi Harmony,
    When reading your blog post I noticed that you seemed to catch all the similar “jabs” at women in the story that I did. One of the more powerful examples of this is caught when Bennie explains that George Murchison laughs at the idea of her becoming a doctor stating, “I’m going to be a doctor, and George, for one, still thinks that’s pretty funny” (Hansberry 53). This reflects some of the battles that many women have today when entering certain industries such as construction or certain jobs like becoming a mechanic. So to answer your first question, yes women are still marginalized even today. For the time period however, I do not believe that the women in the story are facing any more oppression that the average woman would in the 50’s, where many companies would have a written policy to pay women less than men. Therefore, I don’t believe finance has much to do with sexism of the time period rather than a pure belief of inferiority.

  5. Hi Harmony,
    I thought your recount of Act 1 was very astute, I noticed many of the same examples of the oppression and marginalization of African American women. I feel like the racial and financial standing of the Younger family certainly had a lot to do with how this family lives and what they are going through. I think it is quite interesting how they argue over what should be done with the ten thousand dollar life insurance check. Mama hardly even wants anything to do with it, I believe as it reminds her of her late husband Walter, but she knows that it should go toward helping the children. Either for Beneatha’s schooling to become a doctor, or “maybe we could meet the notes on a little old two-story somewhere, with a yard where Travis could play in the summertime…” (44) She wants to provide for the family but refuses to give attention to Walter Lee’s notion of investing in a liquor store, mostly I believe due to her hardened Christian views. The conversation about the abortion is also a key point, we can tell something is going on with Ruth from the beginning of the Act and she is a bit under the weather and then faints at the end of scene i. Walter inquires whats wrong but isn’t intuitive enough to pick up on what it is until Mama tells it right out to him at the end of act ii. When he learns that she is considering abortion he is left speechless as he didn’t believe she would be capable of such a thing, “You don’t know Ruth, Mama, if you think she would do that. This behavior/ reaction is still typical today of a man thinking he has a say on what a woman should do with her body. Modern women of today are still marginalized by men, by both races in many of the examples given such as how a woman should build her up her man and support him, as if that was all she was meant for. But I agree with your statement that thanks to women like Beneatha and Ruth for standing up for themselves, women of today have more freedom of expression and opportunities in society, although we still have a long way to go.

  6. Such a great, thoughtful post, Hamony!
    I want to comment on how thorough you were in examining the ways that oppression to women is happening in this act, even some of the smaller digs that some people might not have even caught on to, like the way that Beneatha’s family speaks to her. But I do wonder when reading this and thinking about it.. what if Beneatha’s family is just so used to her trying so many things and not sticking with them? So now they don’t take her seriously. Of course I think they should support her and her dreams but I wonder if that is something that is happening within the family.

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