An Ambitious and Money Oriented Person

It shows that Hansberry explains Bennie as an educated girl in the play. One way in showing how well educated Bennie is by having Bennie as the character who uses better English compared to Walter and Mama. As Hansberry states, “ … it is different from the rest of the family’s insofar as education has permeated her sense of English–and perhaps the Midwest rather than the South has finally–at last–won out in her inflection…” Hansberry, 1994: 35. Another way that Hansberry used to show that Bennie is an educated girl is by having some sophisticated words or scientific words in Bennie’s statements which is not familiar to other characters. Beneatha : Not Crazy. Brother isn’t really crazy yet – he – he’s an elaborate neurotic. Hansberry, 1994: 49 Beneatha : You mean save them from heathenism – Hansberry, 1994: 57. Another sophisticated word that Bennie used is assimilationist. As she said “...I am not an assimilationist” Hansberry, 1994: 63. The term of assimilationist is well accepted when it is brought to the conversation between Bennie and her collage friends, in this case between Bennie and Asagai and between Bennie and George. It is because they have at least the same level of education. When the term assimilationist comes to Ruth who is considered having less education than Bennie, it is difficult to be understood. Beneatha : Because I hate assimilationist Negroes Ruth : Will somebody please tell me what assimila-who-ever means Hansberry, 1994: 81. Bennie is not only described as a well educated character but also a young girl who becomes addicted to education. It is why she wants to continue her study in the 40 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