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Copy of Raisin in the Sun 9/19 (6/23/2025)

Last updated 6 months ago
15 questions
REACTIONS TO MAMA'S PURCHASE
WALTER Mama, where have you been?
160 MAMA My—them steps is longer than they used to be. Whew! (She sits down and ignores him) How you feeling this evening, Ruth?
(RUTH shrugs, disturbed at having been interrupted and watching her husband knowingly)
WALTER Mama, where have you been all day?
MAMA (Still ignoring him and leaning on the table and changing to more comfortable shoes) Where’s Travis?
RUTH I let him go out earlier and he ain’t come back yet. Boy, is he going to get it!
WALTER Mama!
MAMA (As if she has heard him for the first time) Yes, son?
WALTER Where did you go this afternoon?
MAMA I went downtown to tend to some business that I had to tend to.
WALTER What kind of business?
MAMA You know better than to question me like a child, Brother.
WALTER (Rising and bending over the table) Where were you, Mama? (Bringing his fists down and shouting) Mama, you didn’t go do something with that insurance money, something crazy?
(The front door opens slowly, interrupting him, and TRAVIS peeks his head in, less than hopefully)
TRAVIS (To his mother) Mama, I—
RUTH “Mama I” nothing! You’re going to get it, boy! Get on in that bedroom and get yourself ready!
TRAVIS But I—
MAMA Why don’t you all never let the child explain hisself.
RUTH Keep out of it now, Lena.
(MAMA clamps her lips together, and RUTH advances toward her son menacingly)
RUTH A thousand times I have told you not to go off like that—
MAMA (Holding out her arms to her grandson) Well—at least let me tell him something. I want him to be the first one to hear … Come here, Travis. (The boy obeys, gladly) Travis—(She takes him by the shoulder and looks into his face)—you know that money we got in the mail this morning?
TRAVIS Yes’m—
MAMA Well—what you think your grandmama gone and done with that money?
TRAVIS I don’t know, Grandmama.
MAMA (Putting her finger on his nose for emphasis) She went out and she bought you a house! (The explosion comes from WALTER at the end of the revelation and he jumps up and turns away from all of them in a fury. MAMA continues, to TRAVIS) You glad about the house? It’s going to be yours when you get to be a man.
TRAVIS Yeah—I always wanted to live in a house.
MAMA All right, gimme some sugar then—(TRAVIS puts his arms around her neck as she watches her son over the boy’s shoulder. Then, to TRAVIS, after the embrace) Now when you say your prayers tonight, you thank God and your grandfather—’cause it was him who give you the house—in his way.
RUTH (Taking the boy from MAMA and pushing him toward the bedroom) Now you get out of here and get ready for your beating.
TRAVIS Aw, Mama—
RUTH Get on in there—(Closing the door behind him and turning radiantly to her mother-in-law) So you went and did it!
190 MAMA (Quietly, looking at her son with pain) Yes, I did.
RUTH (Raising both arms classically) PRAISE GOD! (Looks at WALTER a moment, who says nothing. She crosses rapidly to her husband) Please, honey—let me be glad … you be glad too. (She has laid her hands on his shoulders, but he shakes himself free of her roughly, without turning to face her) Oh Walter … a home … a home. (She comes back to MAMA) Well—where is it? How big is it? How much it going to cost?
MAMA Well—
RUTH When we moving?
MAMA (Smiling at her) First of the month.
RUTH (Throwing back her head with jubilance) Praise God!
MAMA (Tentatively, still looking at her son’s back turned against her and RUTH) It’s—it’s a nice house too … (She cannot help speaking directly to him. An imploring quality in her voice, her manner, makes her almost like a girl now) Three bedrooms—nice big one for you and Ruth.… Me and Beneatha still have to share our room, but Travis have one of his own—and (With difficulty) I figure if the—new baby—is a boy, we could get one of them double-decker outfits … And there’s a yard with a little patch of dirt where I could maybe get to grow me a few flowers … And a nice big basement …
RUTH Walter honey, be glad—
MAMA (Still to his back, fingering things on the table) ’Course I don’t want to make it sound fancier than it is … It’s just a plain little old house—but it’s made good and solid—and it will be ours. Walter Lee—it makes a difference in a man when he can walk on floors that belong to him …
RUTH Where is it?
MAMA (Frightened at this telling) Well—well—it’s out there in Clybourne Park—
(RUTH’S radiance fades abruptly, and WALTER finally turns slowly to face his mother with incredulity and hostility)
RUTH Where?
MAMA (Matter-of-factly) Four o six Clybourne Street, Clybourne Park.
RUTH Clybourne Park? Mama, there ain’t no colored people living in Clybourne Park.
MAMA (Almost idiotically) Well, I guess there’s going to be some now.
WALTER (Bitterly) So that’s the peace and comfort you went out and bought for us today!
MAMA (Raising her eyes to meet his finally) Son—I just tried to find the nicest place for the least amount of money for my family.
RUTH (Trying to recover from the shock) Well—well—’course I ain’t one never been ’fraid of no crackers, mind you—but—well, wasn’t there no other houses nowhere?
MAMA Them houses they put up for colored in them areas way out all seem to cost twice as much as other houses. I did the best I could.
RUTH (Struck senseless with the news, in its various degrees of goodness and trouble, she sits a moment, her fists propping her chin in thought, and then she starts to rise, bringing her fists down with vigor, the radiance spreading from cheek to cheek again) Well—well!—All I can say is—if this is my time in life—MY TIME—to say good-bye—(And she builds with momentum as she starts to circle the room with an exuberant, almost tearfully happy release)—to these goddamned cracking walls!—(She pounds the walls)—and these marching roaches!—(She wipes at an imaginary army of marching roaches)—and this cramped little closet which ain’t now or never was no kitchen! … then I say it loud and good, HALLELUJAH! AND GOOD-BYE MISERY … I DONT NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR UGLY FACE AGAIN! (She laughs joyously, having practically destroyed the apartment, and flings her arms up and lets them come down happily, slowly, reflectively, over her abdomen, aware for the first time perhaps that the life therein pulses with happiness and not despair) Lena?
MAMA (Moved, watching her happiness) Yes, honey?
RUTH (Looking off) Is there—is there a whole lot of sunlight?
MAMA (Understanding) Yes, child, there’s a whole lot of sunlight.
(Long pause)
RUTH (Collecting herself and going to the door of the room TRAVIS is in) Well—I guess I better see ’bout Travis. (To MAMA) Lord, I sure don’t feel like whipping nobody today!
216 (She exits)
MAMA (The mother and son are left alone now and the mother waits a long time, considering deeply, before she speaks) Son—you—you understand what I done, don’t you? (WALTER is silent and sullen) I—I just seen my family falling apart today … just falling to pieces in front of my eyes … We couldn’t of gone on like we was today. We was going backwards ’stead of forwards—talking ’bout killing babies and wishing each other was dead … When it gets like that in life—you just got to do something different, push on out and do something bigger … (She waits) I wish you say something, son … I wish you’d say how deep inside you you think I done the right thing—
WALTER (Crossing slowly to his bedroom door and finally turning there and speaking measuredly) What you need me to say you done right for? You the head of this family. You run our lives like you want to. It was your money and you did what you wanted with it. So what you need for me to say it was all right for? (Bitterly, to hurt her as deeply as he knows is possible) So you butchered up a dream of mine—you—who always talking ’bout your children’s dreams …
MAMA Walter Lee—
(He just closes the door behind him. MAMA sits alone, thinking heavily)
221 Curtain
1

What is Walter's reaction to the news about the house purchase?

1

What is a deatail about the house purchase that you think relates to one of Beneatha's motivations?

1

What is the family's reaction to Mama's purchase?

REACTION TO THE PURCHASE
WALTER Mama!
MAMA (As if she has heard him for the first time) Yes, son?
WALTER Where did you go this afternoon?
MAMA I went downtown to tend to some business that I had to tend to.
WALTER What kind of business?
MAMA You know better than to question me like a child, Brother.
WALTER (Rising and bending over the table) Where were you, Mama? (Bringing his fists down and shouting) Mama, you didn’t go do something with that insurance money, something crazy?
(The front door opens slowly, interrupting him, and TRAVIS peeks his head in, less than hopefully)
TRAVIS (To his mother) Mama, I—
RUTH “Mama I” nothing! You’re going to get it, boy! Get on in that bedroom and get yourself ready!
TRAVIS But I—
MAMA Why don’t you all never let the child explain hisself.
RUTH Keep out of it now, Lena.
(MAMA clamps her lips together, and RUTH advances toward her son menacingly)
RUTH A thousand times I have told you not to go off like that—
MAMA (Holding out her arms to her grandson) Well—at least let me tell him something. I want him to be the first one to hear … Come here, Travis. (The boy obeys, gladly) Travis—(She takes him by the shoulder and looks into his face)—you know that money we got in the mail this morning?
TRAVIS Yes’m—
MAMA Well—what you think your grandmama gone and done with that money?
TRAVIS I don’t know, Grandmama.
MAMA (Putting her finger on his nose for emphasis) She went out and she bought you a house! (The explosion comes from WALTER at the end of the revelation and he jumps up and turns away from all of them in a fury. MAMA continues, to TRAVIS) You glad about the house? It’s going to be yours when you get to be a man.
TRAVIS Yeah—I always wanted to live in a house.
MAMA All right, gimme some sugar then—(TRAVIS puts his arms around her neck as she watches her son over the boy’s shoulder. Then, to TRAVIS, after the embrace) Now when you say your prayers tonight, you thank God and your grandfather—’cause it was him who give you the house—in his way.
RUTH (Taking the boy from MAMA and pushing him toward the bedroom) Now you get out of here and get ready for your beating.
TRAVIS Aw, Mama—
RUTH Get on in there—(Closing the door behind him and turning radiantly to her mother-in-law) So you went and did it!
190 MAMA (Quietly, looking at her son with pain) Yes, I did.
RUTH (Raising both arms classically) PRAISE GOD! (Looks at WALTER a moment, who says nothing. She crosses rapidly to her husband) Please, honey—let me be glad … you be glad too. (She has laid her hands on his shoulders, but he shakes himself free of her roughly, without turning to face her) Oh Walter … a home … a home. (She comes back to MAMA) Well—where is it? How big is it? How much it going to cost?
MAMA Well—
RUTH When we moving?
MAMA (Smiling at her) First of the month.
RUTH (Throwing back her head with jubilance) Praise God!
MAMA (Tentatively, still looking at her son’s back turned against her and RUTH) It’s—it’s a nice house too … (She cannot help speaking directly to him. An imploring quality in her voice, her manner, makes her almost like a girl now) Three bedrooms—nice big one for you and Ruth.… Me and Beneatha still have to share our room, but Travis have one of his own—and (With difficulty) I figure if the—new baby—is a boy, we could get one of them double-decker outfits … And there’s a yard with a little patch of dirt where I could maybe get to grow me a few flowers … And a nice big basement …
RUTH Walter honey, be glad—
MAMA (Still to his back, fingering things on the table) ’Course I don’t want to make it sound fancier than it is … It’s just a plain little old house—but it’s made good and solid—and it will be ours. Walter Lee—it makes a difference in a man when he can walk on floors that belong to him …
RUTH Where is it?
MAMA (Frightened at this telling) Well—well—it’s out there in Clybourne Park—
(RUTH’S radiance fades abruptly, and WALTER finally turns slowly to face his mother with incredulity and hostility)
RUTH Where?
MAMA (Matter-of-factly) Four o six Clybourne Street, Clybourne Park.
RUTH Clybourne Park? Mama, there ain’t no colored people living in Clybourne Park.
MAMA (Almost idiotically) Well, I guess there’s going to be some now.
WALTER (Bitterly) So that’s the peace and comfort you went out and bought for us today!
MAMA (Raising her eyes to meet his finally) Son—I just tried to find the nicest place for the least amount of money for my family.
RUTH (Trying to recover from the shock) Well—well—’course I ain’t one never been ’fraid of no crackers, mind you—but—well, wasn’t there no other houses nowhere?
MAMA Them houses they put up for colored in them areas way out all seem to cost twice as much as other houses. I did the best I could.
RUTH (Struck senseless with the news, in its various degrees of goodness and trouble, she sits a moment, her fists propping her chin in thought, and then she starts to rise, bringing her fists down with vigor, the radiance spreading from cheek to cheek again) Well—well!—All I can say is—if this is my time in life—MY TIME—to say good-bye—(And she builds with momentum as she starts to circle the room with an exuberant, almost tearfully happy release)—to these goddamned cracking walls!—(She pounds the walls)—and these marching roaches!—(She wipes at an imaginary army of marching roaches)—and this cramped little closet which ain’t now or never was no kitchen! … then I say it loud and good, HALLELUJAH! AND GOOD-BYE MISERY … I DONT NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR UGLY FACE AGAIN! (She laughs joyously, having practically destroyed the apartment, and flings her arms up and lets them come down happily, slowly, reflectively, over her abdomen, aware for the first time perhaps that the life therein pulses with happiness and not despair) Lena?
MAMA (Moved, watching her happiness) Yes, honey?
RUTH (Looking off) Is there—is there a whole lot of sunlight?
MAMA (Understanding) Yes, child, there’s a whole lot of sunlight.
(Long pause)
RUTH (Collecting herself and going to the door of the room TRAVIS is in) Well—I guess I better see ’bout Travis. (To MAMA) Lord, I sure don’t feel like whipping nobody today!
216 (She exits)
MAMA (The mother and son are left alone now and the mother waits a long time, considering deeply, before she speaks) Son—you—you understand what I done, don’t you? (WALTER is silent and sullen) I—I just seen my family falling apart today … just falling to pieces in front of my eyes … We couldn’t of gone on like we was today. We was going backwards ’stead of forwards—talking ’bout killing babies and wishing each other was dead … When it gets like that in life—you just got to do something different, push on out and do something bigger … (She waits) I wish you say something, son … I wish you’d say how deep inside you you think I done the right thing—
WALTER (Crossing slowly to his bedroom door and finally turning there and speaking measuredly) What you need me to say you done right for? You the head of this family. You run our lives like you want to. It was your money and you did what you wanted with it. So what you need for me to say it was all right for? (Bitterly, to hurt her as deeply as he knows is possible) So you butchered up a dream of mine—you—who always talking ’bout your children’s dreams …
MAMA Walter Lee—
(He just closes the door behind him. MAMA sits alone, thinking heavily)
221 Curtain
Required
1

Complete the row for each character.

For the following questions, Choose one of the character from the chart.
1

What do you think is your character's main response to the news?

1

Which passage/quotes in the text made you think so, and why?

1

Did anyone at your table/group find a response you didn't think or or notice? Do you agree or disagree with that?

Required
10

10 min, 100 words- use APE

Describe how your character reacts to the house purchase. Does this reaction surprise you? Why or why not? (If you are following Beneatha, use what you know to imagine how she would respond.)

HOMEWORK
ACT 2, SCENE TWO
Time: Friday night. A few weeks later.
At rise: Packing crates mark the intention of the family to move. BENEATHA and GEORGE come in, presumably from an evening out again.
GEORGE O.K. … O.K., whatever you say … (They both sit on the couch. He tries to kiss her. She moves away) Look, we’ve had a nice evening; let’s not spoil it, huh? …
(He again turns her head and tries to nuzzle in and she turns away from him, not with distaste but with momentary lack of interest; in a mood to pursue what they were talking about)
BENEATHA I’m trying to talk to you.
GEORGE We always talk.
BENEATHA Yes—and I love to talk.
GEORGE (Exasperated; rising) I know it and I don’t mind it sometimes … I want you to cut it out, see—The moody stuff, I mean. I don’t like it. You’re a nice-looking girl … all over. That’s all you need, honey, forget the atmosphere. Guys aren’t going to go for the atmosphere—they’re going to go for what they see. Be glad for that. Drop the Garbo routine. It doesn’t go with you. As for myself, I want a nice—(Groping)—simple (Thoughtfully)—sophisticated girl … not a poet—O.K.?
(He starts to kiss her, she rebuffs him again and he jumps up)
BENEATHA Why are you angry, George?
GEORGE Because this is stupid! I don’t go out with you to discuss the nature of “quiet desperation” or to hear all about your thoughts—because the world will go on thinking what it thinks regardless—
BENEATHA Then why read books? Why go to school?
GEORGE (With artificial patience, counting on his fingers) It’s simple. You read books—to learn facts—to get grades—to pass the course—to get a degree. That’s all—it has nothing to do with thoughts.
(A long pause)
BENEATHA I see. (He starts to sit) Good night, George.
(GEORGE looks at her a little oddly, and starts to exit. He meets MAMA coming in)
GEORGE Oh—hello, Mrs. Younger.
MAMA Hello, George, how you feeling?
GEORGE Fine—fine, how are you?
20 MAMA Oh, a little tired. You know them steps can get you after a day’s work. You all have a nice time tonight?
GEORGE Yes—a fine time. A fine time.
MAMA Well, good night.
GEORGE Good night. (He exits. MAMA closes the door behind her) Hello, honey. What you sitting like that for?
BENEATHA I’m just sitting.
MAMA Didn’t you have a nice time?
BENEATHA No.
MAMA No? What’s the matter?
BENEATHA Mama, George is a fool—honest. (She rises)
MAMA (Hustling around unloading the packages she has entered with. She stops) Is he, baby?
BENEATHA Yes.
(BENEATHA makes up TRAVIS’ bed as she talks)
MAMA You sure?
BENEATHA Yes.
MAMA Well—I guess you better not waste your time with no fools.
(BENEATHA looks up at her mother, watching her put groceries in the refrigerator. Finally she gathers up her things and starts into the bedroom. At the door she stops and looks back at her mother)
BENEATHA Mama—
MAMA Yes, baby—
BENEATHA Thank you.
MAMA For what?
BENEATHA For understanding me this time.
(She exits quickly and the mother stands, smiling a little, looking at the place where BENEATHA just stood. RUTH enters)
RUTH Now don’t you fool with any of this stuff, Lena—
MAMA Oh, I just thought I’d sort a few things out. Is Brother here?
RUTH Yes.
MAMA (With concern) Is he—
RUTH (Reading her eyes) Yes.
(MAMA is silent and someone knocks on the door. MAMA and RUTH exchange weary and knowing glances and RUTH opens it to admit the neighbor, MRS. JOHNSON,* who is a rather squeaky wide-eyed lady of no particular age, with a newspaper under her arm)
MAMA (Changing her expression to acute delight and a ringing cheerful greeting) Oh—hello there, Johnson.
JOHNSON (This is a woman who decided long ago to be enthusiastic about EVERYTHING in life and she is inclined to wave her wrist vigorously at the height of her exclamatory comments) Hello there, yourself! H’you this evening, Ruth?
50 RUTH (Not much of a deceptive type) Fine, Mis’ Johnson, h’you?
JOHNSON Fine. (Reaching out quickly, playfully, and patting RUTH’S stomach) Ain’t you starting to poke out none yet! (She mugs with delight at the overfamiliar remark and her eyes dart around looking at the crates and packing preparation; MAMA’S face is a cold sheet of endurance) Oh, ain’t we getting ready ’round here, though! Yessir! Lookathere! I’m telling you the Youngers is really getting ready to “move on up a little higher!”—Bless God!
MAMA (A little drily, doubting the total sincerity of the Blesser) Bless God.
JOHNSON He’s good, ain’t He?
MAMA Oh yes, He’s good.
JOHNSON I mean sometimes He works in mysterious ways … but He works, don’t He!
MAMA (The same) Yes, he does.
JOHNSON I’m just soooooo happy for y’all. And this here child—(About RUTH) looks like she could just pop open with happiness, don’t she. Where’s all the rest of the family?
MAMA Bennie’s gone to bed—
JOHNSON Ain’t no … (The implication is pregnancy) sickness done hit you—I hope … ?
MAMA No—she just tired. She was out this evening.
JOHNSON (All is a coo, an emphatic coo) Aw—ain’t that lovely. She still going out with the little Murchison boy?
MAMA (Drily) Ummmm huh.
JOHNSON That’s lovely. You sure got lovely children, Younger. Me and Isaiah talks all the time ’bout what fine children you was blessed with. We sure do.
MAMA Ruth, give Mis’ Johnson a piece of sweet potato pie and some milk.
JOHNSON Oh honey, I can’t stay hardly a minute—I just dropped in to see if there was anything I could do. (Accepting the food easily) I guess y’all seen the news what’s all over the colored paper this week …
MAMA No—didn’t get mine yet this week.
JOHNSON (Lifting her head and blinking with the spirit of catastrophe) You mean you ain’t read ’bout them colored people that was bombed out their place out there?
(RUTH straightens with concern and takes the paper and reads it. JOHNSON notices her and feeds commentary)
JOHNSON Ain’t it something how bad these here white folks is getting here in Chicago! Lord, getting so you think you right down in Mississippi! (With a tremendous and rather insincere sense of melodrama) ’Course I thinks it’s wonderful how our folks keeps on pushing out. You hear some of these Negroes ’round here talking ’bout how they don’t go where they ain’t wanted and all that—but not me, honey! (This is a lie) Wilhemenia Othella Johnson goes anywhere, any time she feels like it! (With head movement for emphasis) Yes I do! Why if we left it up to these here crackers, the poor niggers wouldn’t have nothing—(She clasps her hand over her mouth) Oh, I always forgets you don’t ’low that word in your house.
MAMA (Quietly, looking at her) No—I don’t ’low it.
JOHNSON (Vigorously again) Me neither! I was just telling Isaiah yesterday when he come using it in front of me—I said, “Isaiah, it’s just like Mis’ Younger says all the time—”
MAMA Don’t you want some more pie?
JOHNSON No—no thank you; this was lovely. I got to get on over home and have my midnight coffee. I hear some people say it don’t let them sleep but I finds I can’t close my eyes right lessen I done had that laaaast cup of coffee … (She waits. A beat. Undaunted) My Goodnight coffee, I calls it!
MAMA (With much eye-rolling and communication between herself and RUTH) Ruth, why don’t you give Mis’ Johnson some coffee.
75 (RUTH gives MAMA an unpleasant look for her kindness)
JOHNSON (Accepting the coffee) Where’s Brother tonight?
MAMA He’s lying down.
JOHNSON Mmmmmm, he sure gets his beauty rest, don’t he? Good-looking man. Sure is a good-looking man! (Reaching out to pat RUTH’S stomach again) I guess that’s how come we keep on having babies around here. (She winks at MAMA) One thing ’bout Brother, he always know how to have a good time. And soooooo ambitious! I bet it was his idea y’all moving out to Clybourne Park. Lord—I bet this time next month y’all’s names will have been in the papers plenty—(Holding up her hands to mark off each word of the headline she can see in front of her) “NEGROES INVADE CLYBOURNE PARK—BOMBED!”
MAMA (She and RUTH look at the woman in amazement) We ain’t exactly moving out there to get bombed.
JOHNSON Oh, honey—you know I’m praying to God every day that don’t nothing like that happen! But you have to think of life like it is—and these here Chicago peckerwoods is some baaaad peckerwoods.
MAMA (Wearily) We done thought about all that Mis’ Johnson.
(BENEATHA comes out of the bedroom in her robe and passes through to the bathroom. MRS. JOHNSON turns)
JOHNSON Hello there, Bennie!
BENEATHA (Crisply) Hello, Mrs. Johnson.
JOHNSON How is school?
BENEATHA (Crisply) Fine, thank you. (She goes out.)
JOHNSON (Insulted) Getting so she don’t have much to say to nobody.
MAMA The child was on her way to the bathroom.
JOHNSON I know—but sometimes she act like ain’t got time to pass the time of day with nobody ain’t been to college. Oh—I ain’t criticizing her none. It’s just—you know how some of our young people gets when they get a little education. (MAMA and RUTH say nothing, just look at her) Yes—well. Well, I guess I better get on home. (Unmoving) ’Course I can understand how she must be proud and everything—being the only one in the family to make something of herself. I know just being a chauffeur ain’t never satisfied Brother none. He shouldn’t feel like that, though. Ain’t nothing wrong with being a chauffeur.
MAMA There’s plenty wrong with it.
JOHNSON What?
MAMA Plenty. My husband always said being any kind of a servant wasn’t a fit thing for a man to have to be. He always said a man’s hands was made to make things, or to turn the earth with—not to drive nobody’s car for ’em—or—(She looks at her own hands) carry they slop jars. And my boy is just like him—he wasn’t meant to wait on nobody.
JOHNSON (Rising, somewhat offended) Mmmmmmmmm. The Youngers is too much for me! (She looks around) You sure one proud-acting bunch of colored folks. Well—I always thinks like Booker T. Washington said that time—“Education has spoiled many a good plow hand”—
MAMA Is that what old Booker T. said?
JOHNSON He sure did.
MAMA Well, it sounds just like him. The fool.
JOHNSON (Indignantly) Well—he was one of our great men.
MAMA Who said so?
JOHNSON (Nonplussed) You know, me and you ain’t never agreed about some things, Lena Younger. I guess I better be going—
100 RUTH (Quickly) Good night.
JOHNSON Good night. Oh—(Thrusting it at her) You can keep the paper! (With a trill) ’Night.
MAMA Good night, Mis’ Johnson.
(MRS. JOHNSON exits)
RUTH If ignorance was gold …
MAMA Shush. Don’t talk about folks behind their backs.
RUTH You do.
MAMA I’m old and corrupted. (BENEATHA enters) You was rude to Mis’ Johnson, Beneatha, and I don’t like it at all.
BENEATHA (At her door) Mama, if there are two things we, as a people, have got to overcome, one is the Ku Klux Klan—and the other is Mrs. Johnson. (She exits)
MAMA Smart aleck.
Required
1

At the start of this passage, what do Beneatha's feelings toward George seem to be?

Required
1

What do Beneatha and George seem to disagree on most?

Required
1

Which statement best describes Mrs. Johnson?

Required
3
Which three words best describe Mrs. Johnson's feelings about the Younger family's plans to move? ____________ ______________ ________________
Other Answer Choices:
Diapproving
Curious
Resentful
Relieved
Admiring
Required
1
The thing that seems to bother Mrs. Johnson most about the Younger family is their __________
Required
1

State one reason why you think a director might leave Scene Two out of a theater production.

Required
1

State one reason why a director would choose to leave it in.