A Raisin in the Sun- Beneatha by Saanvi Kunisetty

 A Raisin in the Sun- Beneatha

Saanvi Kunisetty

One of the simplest tasks we partake in is drinking water. We never really give it much thought, but the credit goes to the container or vessel that the water is enclosed in. Drinking water would become quite a task without a structure around it. Our dreams can strangely be compared to this daily activity of drinking water. But what happens when the structure around this water, around these dreams, starts to vanish? To what lengths are people willing to go in order to achieve their dreams? Our dreams are easiest to achieve when they are solidly supported by people, money, society, and more. Without this, many people start to feel that their dream is worthless and not worth pursuing. In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Beneatha comprehends that no dream is worth abandoning. This is clearly portrayed in the play when Beneatha comes to the realization that although her life’s ambition was first cemented when she was a child, her dream is not less worthy in any manner.

Throughout the story, Beneatha learns the value of dreams in general, but this lesson is really instilled in her when she acknowledges the importance of her childhood aspiration to become a doctor. Near the beginning of Act Three, Beneatha is conversing with Asagai about how Walter has lost all her tuition money and makes an excuse by saying that her dream “doesn’t seem deep enough, close enough to what ails mankind...it was a child’s reaction to the world” (Hansberry 577). Beneatha is ready to give up on her dream of becoming a doctor, regardless of all the effort she put in, just because she lacked tuition money. Proclaiming her ambition to be childish, she is ready to quit, until Asagai explains the value of her ambitions to her. This aids her in discovering the importance of pursuing dreams, regardless of the challenges posed. Beneatha’s discussion with Asagai motivates her to finally declare to Mama that she wants “to be a doctor in Africa...to practice there” (Hansberry 586). Beneatha has ultimately come to recognize the significance of her life’s ambitions, and has learnt that her determination and perseverance.

During the course of A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Beneatha acknowledges the merit of all dreams, and learns that she should not give up on them, especially when she learns that the ambition originally developed by her as a child is just as valuable as any other dream. After all, this world wouldn’t be the same without the people who set out to contradict society. If it wasn’t for the founding fathers doing so, we may not be the democratic country that we are today. If it wasn’t for the women protestors doing so, girls would not be looked upon with respect as they are today. All Beneatha needed was a little push, and she was ready to go change the world. Everyone else can pursue their dreams like she did too, if only one remembers not to quit when the structure around the dream seems to dissipate.