It shows that Bennie sees the opportunity not only to learn new things and satisfy her desire of curiosity but also there is something bigger in it. She believed
that by marrying Asagai and move to Africa, she can achieve her dream of becoming a doctor. By becoming a doctor, Bennie can express herself in helping others.
Hansberry, 1994: 133. One reason that comes to Bennie’s mind to accept the offer is since the accident of her brother losing all the money, Bennie sees that Asagai’s
offer is the best chance for her to fulfill her dream. Accepting the offer to go to another country reflects her adventurous spirit,
having a chance to feel new things in life in such new places. Bennie feels proud when she has lots of experiences in life. Bennie symbolizes of a character with a
spirit of an adventurous who always feels carious about something new in life. From that point of view, we can see that Brockett’s in Benedetty, 1970: 130
theory of psychological condition in analyzing a character is also applied to explain Bennie’s curiosity in facing something new in life. As Brockett stated, one way in
analyzing character in the story is by using psychological condition which reveals character’s habitual responses, attitudes, desire, motivations, likes and dislikes –the
inner workings of the mind, both emotionally and intellectually, which precede action.
d. An Irreligious Girl
Bennie is not as religious as her mother, she does not believe in God. She always doubts the existence of God. As she said, “…I’m just tired of hearing about
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God all the time. What has He got to do with anything? Does He pay tuition?” Hansberry, 1994: 50. She gets tired of hearing about God in her life, when there is
no proof that comes. She believes that God has done nothing to help her and her family. It is really in contrast with Mama’s opinion about the existence of God in her
family life. Beneatha
: Mama, you don’t understand. It’s all a matter of ideas, and God is just one idea I don’t accept. It’s not important. I am not going
out and be immoral or commit crimes because I don’t believe God. I don’t even think about it. It’s just that I get tired of Him
getting credit for all the things the human race achieves through its own stubborn effort. There simply is no blasted God—there is
only man and it is he who makes miracles Hansberry, 1994: 51.
Bennie states that God does not really exist, for Bennie the existence of a God is only about idea and she chooses not to believe it. Bennie thinks that it is unfair
when somebody who achieves something because she or he works hard for it but at the end it is God who gets the credit for the human achievement. She also argues that
when she does not believe to God it does not mean that she will become a bad person, an immoral or commit crimes.
4. The Description of Ruth
Ruth is Walter’s wife and Beneatha’s sister in-law. In the beginning of the play, Hansberry gives a short description about Ruth. Physically, Ruth is
characterized as a beautiful woman in her age. She is around thirty year old. Moving to the analysis on her personality, she is described as a woman with good attitudes
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and really patient. Facing lots of problem with her husband makes her learn to be a patient woman.
a. A Loving and Patient Woman
One of Ruth’s characteristics is her patience. Come from the oppressed society, Ruth who plays the role of a mother and a wife has grown into a patient
woman. Her patience is needed in dealing not only with her son and husband but also with other members of the family. Ruth’s patience toward her husband can be seen
through the way she deals with her husband’s ambition. She is always there every day, patiently, hears about her husband’s dream and ambition Hansberry, 1994: 34.
Murphy 1972: 167 stated, one of the ways that can be used to understand the character in the story is by using the method’s conversation of others, in which the
author gives the reader a clue to a person character through the conversation of other people and the things they say about him. By using that theory, Ruth’s patience can
also be seen in the conversation of other characters, it is the conversation between Mama and Walter, as in the following quotations,
Mama : …Walter Lee, people can’t live with that. Ruth’s a good,
patient girl in her way—but you getting to be too much. Boy, don’t make the mistake of driving that girl away from you.
Walter : Why—what she do for me?
Mama : She loves you Hansberry, 1994: 72.
Mama sees Ruth as a patient woman. In Mama’s eyes, Ruth’s way of accepting her husband attitude and manner shows that Ruth is indeed a patient woman. She knows
that Ruth really loves Walter. Mama is afraid that Ruth will leave the family because 46
of Walter’s manner and attitude. As a loving woman, Ruth shows her care toward her son, husband and the rest family by always taking care of everything in the house,
things such as preparing breakfast. Ruth’s love for her husband can be seen in the way she treats him nicely although Walter treats her bad. When they were having an
argument and Walter starts to get angry, Ruth softly asks why Walter can not stop fighting her.
Ruth : Oh, Walter … Softly Honey, why can’t you stop fighting me?
Walter : Without thinking Who’s fighting you? Who even cares about
you? Hansberry, 1994: 87 Walter said that he does not even care about Ruth but still Ruth shows her loving side
by not taking it seriously and deciding to go to bed and offering Walter some hot milk. Ruth knows that it is good for Walter to have something hot in his stomach
after all the liquor that he had Hansberry, 1994: 87-88. Ruth’s loving side is also pictured clearly in her scarification.
Mama : Son – do you know your wife is expecting another baby?
WALTER stands, stunned, and absorbs what his mother has said
That’s what she wants to talk to you about. WALTER sinks down into a chair
This ain’t for me to be telling – but you ought to know. She waits I think Ruth is thinking ‘bout getting rid of
that child. Walter
: Slowly understanding No – no – Ruth wouldn’t do that. Mama
: When the world gets ugly enough – a woman will do anything for her family. The part that’s already living.
Walter : You don’t know Ruth, Mama, if you think she will do that.
Ruth opens the bedroom door and stands there a little limp Ruth
: Beaten Yes I would too, Walter. Pause I gave her a five- dollar down payment Hansberry, 1994: 74-75.
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