ACT II and III of "A Raisin in the Sun"

1. How is Beneatha dressed and behaving at the opening of Act II? Why do you think she is interested in Nigeria? Why do you think Walter participates, whereas Ruth is embarrassed, particularly once George arrives?
1. She's dressed in cultural robes from Nigeria.  I think she's interested in Nigeria because she is interested in her ancestry.  Walter was drunk, I don't know why.  Maybe he felt compelled to try expressing himself too. Ruth was embarrassed when George arrives because walter was rude/insulting and was giving george trouble because he was rich and went to school. He didn't like his George's shoes either. 
2. Why is Walter so resentful of George? For example, what is he getting at when he says to him, “I see you all all the time – with the books tucked under your arms – going to your ‘clahsses.’ And for what! What the hell you learning over there? Filling up your heads - with the sociology and the psychology – but they teaching you how to be a man? How to take over and run the world? They teaching you how to run a rubber plantation or a steel mill? Naw - just to talk proper and read books and wear them faggoty-looking white shoes…”
1. He's resntful because he feels he doesn't get to have a dream and the college kids have opportunity but don't know what to do with it. 
3. How are George and Asagai different? Consider George’s white shoes compared to Asagai’s Nigerian robes. In what ways are these items symbolic of the men themselves, and perhaps their own dreams?
1. George is more of a socialite, aristocrat type. Goeroge isn't too romantic and did want bene going out in public in the robes.  Asagai is romantic, a bit of a dreamer like bene. He's okay in dressing bene in robs and taking care of her, he's a student (like george) but Asagai doesn't seem to keep up with George's wealth. 
4. She's overwhelmed.  We find out that having a nice house with space for everyone was her dream. 
5. How do you think it impacts Mama when Walter says, “So you butchered up a dream of mine – you - who always talking about your children’s dreams…?”
1. He was making her feel guilty, She was probably hurt, confused, and didn't know how to talk to him. 
6. What does Mama mean when she says to Walter, “I say I been wrong, son. That I been doing to you what the rest of the world been doing to you…there ain’t nothing worth holding on to, money, dreams, nothing else – it if means- if it means it’s going to destroy my boy...?”
1.  that there's nothing worth losing yourself over,  losing honesty, pride... money and dreams can't replace those things. 
7. What big decision does Mama make? Do you think this is the right decision? Why or why not?
1. She puts money down on a house, and trusts the rest to walter.  I'm not sure if it was the right or wrong decision.  I think the fact that she used part of her money to buy her family a house made sense. I think that if walter didn't have the money then he would never have "grown into a man".  Maybe that was what walter needed.
8. Although Travis does not have many lines, in what ways is his character significant?
1. He shows the audience that the family is just beginning and that having future dreams are still fairly important, because kids=future. 
9. What is Karl Linder’s purpose for visiting the Youngers? How do the Youngers respond? How do you think you would respond were you in their situation?  Could something like this take place today?
1. He wanted to buy them out of the neighborhood. The youngers were almost expecting it then thought they were on the same page for a moment, then kept their composure when they realized that Linder was telling them they don't fit in and the neighboors don't want them there (b/c of their color)
10. What do we find out regarding what Walter did with the money? What is your opinion of Walter in this moment? How do you think the family feels in learning the money is gone? How do you imagine Walter feels?  In particular, how does Mama react to the news and why?
1. He dind't go to the bank and he put it down on the liquor store.  He is a selfish lying rat. They are crushed and blame walter. He feels taken advantage of and is VERY angry. He realizes that he lost his father's earnings. Mama is VERY upset as well and prays for patience so she won't slap/yell Walter. 
11. Overall, how do you think the Youngers' environment has impacted their life?  How do you think the new environment is impacting them?
1. I think they became a tight family, and their tiny space and enviromonet kept them dreaming of something better. I think the new environment is impacting then in a way that is testing their dream and their patience.  I think they are working much harder and are trying to hang on to their dream of living in a nice neighborhood and in a house with a garden even with everyone telling them they aren't welcome.