It does seem to be the case that Mama and her children do not recognize each other's motives for their actions, especially with how to run the household. Earlier in the text, Mama slaps Beneatha for disrespecting the authority of God in her house. She makes Beneatha recite the line "In my mother's house, there is still God" (Hansberry 51). I do not believe this action was justified. Yes, Beneatha was speaking out of turn and insulting her family's beliefs, but she did explain why she believed as she did. How else can Mama understand her children if not listen to what they have to say? Mama's actions are out of fear for Beneatha's well being. She does not see Beneatha as an adult who can make her own decisions have hold her own beliefs.
What are anyone else's thoughts? Do you think Mama was correct in disciplining Beneatha? Or should she have rather listened to her and discussed her beliefs?
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I agree that Mama was wrong to discipline Beneatha. Although she disrespected Mama's beliefs, Mama has to realize that Beneatha has to discover who she is as she grows up. She is in college and is beginning to understand herself, but she can't explore the world with her mother is trying to control her. She is entitled to her own opinions and maybe Christianity isn't for her. As an atheist, I identify with Beneatha and understand her reasoning. I also understand that parents may want their children to take a certain path, yet they have to relinquish control over their children in order for them to grow as adults.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Mama was complexly unjustified in disciplining Beneatha. She could certainly have handled the situation better, but Beneatha was being intentionally disrespectful of Mama's beliefs. I interpreted the situation as not Beneatha sharing her views, but as Beneatha putting down Mama's views. I think both parties are at fault here, but that as the child Beneatha should have respected her mother's knows wishes. Their argument seemed too aggressive to be anything but. No meaningful discussion was going to come out of Beneatha shutting down her mother. Had Beneatha been more gentle, less crass, it's possible Mama would have reacted differently. I do think that Mama should have been more understanding of Beneatha. As a young woman she feels pushed to express her beliefs and this is conflictionary with Mama.
DeleteI understand that Mama felt the need to slap Beneatha because she disrespected her views on religion, but the way that Mama expressed her anger towards Beneatha's words I find compulsive. There are plenty of other ways Mama could have disciplined Beneatha, one of them simply being saying nothing more than the mantra,"In my house there is God." Based off of Beneatha's clear flakiness towards new activities, one would assume that Mama would understand that this opinion of Beneatha's will most likely not last. Beneatha is only a college student attempting to find herself and what role she plays in the world. She is being persuaded by influences outside of her family that is causing her to view life differently. I think that Mama was right to discipline Beneatha for disrespecting her views, but I don't think that Mama had the right to slap her, especially because her view won't stay the same forever.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about this situation. Mama did not need to slap her daughter like she did. There is also the question of is Beneatha being persuaded like you say she is or does she really believe there is no God? Although she is a college student, that does not always mean that her opinions and ideas will be swayed by others all the time. Of course Mama should not have slapped her, but the reason behind it, to me, is understandable as to why she chose to hit her.
DeleteI do not think Mama had the right to hurt Beneatha. Beneatha was stating her opinions as she she should be able to, but she knew that she was in a Christian household. I do not think that she should have gone about expressing her beliefs about God in the manner that she did; on the contrary, Mama should also encourage her daughter. There are definitely multiple sides to the argument. However, Mama's violence and making the situation more dramatic makes her argument less credible in my view. Beneatha was wrong, but Mama's reaction was uncalled for. Respect has to be earned on both sides for mutual understanding.
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