A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry: Ruth vs. Beneatha

In Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun, there are many characters who greatly contrast with each other. However, two characters that especially differ from each other are Ruth Younger and her sister-in-law, Beneatha Younger. While Ruth usually keeps her feeling to herself and reacts calmly to situations, Beneatha has the tendency to lash out or attack when she is angry or upset. When Walter Younger loses all of the family’s money, Beneatha exclaims in response to this turn in events, “Oh, God! Where is the bottom! Where is the real honest-to-God bottom so he can’t go any farther!” (Hansberry, 142). However, during the same scene, Ruth expresses her disappointment and sadness for her husband through her silence and facial expressions, as the stage directions state, “Ruth stands stiffly and quietly in the back of them, as though somehow she senses death,” (Hansberry, 126). Furthermore, Beneatha is very determined that she will have a career and not end up a house wife like Ruth. Beneatha wishes to be a doctor, and is doing everything she can to make that dream come true for herself. However, Ruth is content with her position as a house wife and a housekeeper for other families and does not crave a job like Beneatha’s. Because of these differences, Ruth and Beneatha prove to be contrasting characters.