medical school. It illustrates how she concerns much about knowledge and education. Bennie believes that education is very important, by having education she can be a
doctor that becomes her dream in life. Beneatha
: Get over it? What are you talking about, Ruth? Listen, I’m going to be a doctor. I’m not worried about who I’m going to
marry yet—if I ever get married Hansberry, 1994: 50.
In Bennie’s point of view, her priority is to become a doctor instead of getting married. She is not worried at all about whom will she marry or will she be able to
get married later as long as she can achieve her goal of becoming a doctor. Observed in more depth through Bennie’s behavior, in certain ways we can see that she reflects
the intelligence of a girl. This idea is emphasized by seeing the way she thinks and acts.
b. An Independent Girl
Independent is one of Bennie’s characteristics. She always tries to stand on her own feet. One of her independence is shown through her own verbal expression
of how she feels that she never asked anyone to do anything for her. She believed that she can manage everything that she needs by herself. “I have never asked anyone
around here to do anything for me” Hansberry, 1994: 37. She is also quite independent to choose her own pattern to live. Bennie does
not want to follow any single way of her brother thinking or acting, therefore she prefers do the opposite way, to be different from her brother’s way of thinking. It can
be seen through the following dialogue between Bennie and her brother Walter, 41
Walter : Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy
‘bout messing’ round with sick people—then go be a nurse like other women—or just get married and be quiet…
Beneatha : Well—you finally got it said…It took you three years but you
finally got it said. Walter, give up; leave me alone—it’s Mama’s money.
Walter : He was my father,too
Beneatha : So what?...Picking on me is not going to make her give it to
you to invest in any liquor stores… Hansberry, 1994: 38. By letting the readers learn something about a person’s reaction, the author
tries to give the readers a clue to a person’s character by letting them know how that person reacts to various situation and events Murphy, 1972: 168. Bennie’s reaction
toward Walter’s opinion in the dialogue above shows that Bennie does not want to follow her brother opinion to invest the insurance money to open the liquor store. She
thinks that the money belongs to Mama and Mama is the one, who would decide for what the money will be used. Bennie also has a different opinion from her brother
about her future. She has her own way to choose her future not to be a nurse, but to be a doctor. As she states in the following statement “…Listen, I’m going to be a
doctor…” Hansberry, 1994: 50. It shows that she is a mature and independent girl. she has her own decision to choose whatever she wants. She does not depend on the
other characters’ opinion about her future.
c. A Curious Girl
One of Bennie’s interesting characteristics is her curiosity. Being a person with a high curiosity makes Bennie explores her adventurous spirit. She always feels
curious about something new and wants to mastered lots of things in life. Her 42
