Family Tensions and Aspirations in A Raisin in the Sun

This page continues examining conflicts between family members in A Raisin in the Sun, focusing on Mama and Beneatha's disagreements. Their arguments highlight generational divides and changing social values.

Key points of conflict include:

• Beneatha's constantly changing interests and forms of self-expression, which Mama sees as "flitting"
• Beneatha's focus on individual self-discovery, which puzzles Mama
• Differing views on marriage, with Mama assuming Beneatha will marry while Beneatha is uncertain
• Contrasting beliefs about religion and God's role in their lives

Quote: "Course you going to be a doctor, honey. God willing." - Mama "God hasn't got a thing to do with it." - Beneatha

This exchange encapsulates their divergent worldviews - Mama's traditional faith versus Beneatha's secular humanism.

Highlight: Beneatha's assertion that "There simply is no blasted God - there is only man and it is he who makes miracles!" represents a radical break from her family's traditional religious beliefs.

These conflicts stem from:

• Generational differences in values and expectations
• Changing roles and opportunities for women
• Shifts in religious and philosophical outlooks
• Beneatha's education exposing her to new ideas

The arguments between Mama and Beneatha illustrate broader societal changes occurring as younger African Americans in the 1950s challenged traditional norms and sought new forms of self-determination and expression.