Question 5
LORRAINE HANSBERRY: A Raisin in the Sun
Examine the attitude of Beneatha and Ruth towards Mrs. Johnson in the play.
Observation
Very few candidates attempted this question. Mrs Johnson is not a popular character. Hence, most candidates could not account for what transpired between Beneatha, Ruth, Mama and Mrs Johnson.
The required answers should include:
- Relation to the themes of racial discrimination, family unity and racial segregation
- Character identification: Beneatha: Mama’s daughter, aiming at attending Medical School; Ruth: She is Walter’s wife, Travis’ mother, Mama Lena’s daughter-in-law; Mrs Johnson is a nosy neighbour of the Younger family.
- Ruth’s attitude to Mrs. Johnson: Ruth exchanges looks with Mama which reveal her resentment of Mrs Johnson
- Beneatha’s attitude to Mrs. Johnson: She deliberately gives crisp answers to Mrs Johnson’s greetings.
- Mama’s apparent concurrence with Beneatha and Ruth’s behaviour towards Mrs Johnson suggests that Mrs Johnson is not a good neighbour
Candidates’ performance in this question was fair.