Wednesday, October 2, 2013

In A Raisin in the Sun, what name did Asagai give to Beneatha and why?

The answer to this question can be found in Act I scene 2,
when we meet Asagai for the first time. What is really interesting about his character
is that he represents a movement within Afro-Americans that concerned a return to Africa
and a rediscovering of the importance of their original culture. You can find another
literary example of this in the short story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker, where Dee,
the eldest daughter, embraces her African heritage. Thus the name that Asagai gives to
Beneatha is a Yoruba name, as he is from the Yoruba tribe. It is "Alaiyo." When asked,
he eventually translates it as "One for Whom Bread--Food--Is Not Enough." What is
interesting about the meaning of this name is that it presents a comment on the
character of Beneatha which perfectly captures her restless desire to know more and
better herself. She is literally one for whom bread itself is not sufficient in her
life, as she always wants more.

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