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Beneatha Younger
Walter Lee’s wife and Travis’ mother. About thirty years old, Ruth was once “exceptionally” pretty, although an air of “disappointment has already begun to hang in her face.” Her demeanor indicates that life has delivered “little that she expected,” and, as Walter says, she is “tired” of living in their cramped apartment. Like Mama, Ruth works as a domestic maid and also does much of the cooking and cleaning in the Youngers’ home. Deeply dedicated to her family, Ruth tries to repair her failing marriage with Walter and worries about Travis’ childhood in the South Side ghetto. Aware of the emotional strains and economic demands on the family, Ruth contemplates having an abortion when it becomes clear that she has become unexpectedly pregnant during the play, although she decides against it. Ruth shares Mama’s dream of purchasing a home for the family.
Ruth Younger Quotes in A Raisin in the Sun
The A Raisin in the Sun quotes below are all either spoken by Ruth Younger or refer to Ruth Younger. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, Scene 1
Quotes
Walter: See there, that just goes to show you what women understand about the world. Baby, don’t nothing happen for you in this world ‘less you pay somebody off!
Ruth: Walter, leave me alone! Eat your eggs, they gonna be cold.
Walter: That’s it. There you are. Man say to his woman: I got me a dream. His woman say: Eat your eggs. Man say: I got to take hold of this here world, baby! And a woman will say: Eat your eggs and go to work. Man say: I got to change my life, I’m choking to death, baby! And his woman say – Your eggs is getting cold!
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Mama, something is happening between Walter and me. I don’t know what it is – but he needs something – something I can’t give him anymore. He needs this chance, Lena.
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Act 2, Scene 1
Quotes
Well – well! – All I can say is – if this is my time in life – MY TIME – to say good-bye – to these goddamned cracking walls! – and these marching roaches! – and this cramped little closet which ain’t now or never was no kitchen! . . . then I say it loud and good, HALLELUJAH! AND GOOD-BYE MISERY . . . I DON’T NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR UGLY FACE AGAIN!
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Ruth Younger Quotes in A Raisin in the Sun
The A Raisin in the Sun quotes below are all either spoken by Ruth Younger or refer to Ruth Younger. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, Scene 1
Quotes
Walter: See there, that just goes to show you what women understand about the world. Baby, don’t nothing happen for you in this world ‘less you pay somebody off!
Ruth: Walter, leave me alone! Eat your eggs, they gonna be cold.
Walter: That’s it. There you are. Man say to his woman: I got me a dream. His woman say: Eat your eggs. Man say: I got to take hold of this here world, baby! And a woman will say: Eat your eggs and go to work. Man say: I got to change my life, I’m choking to death, baby! And his woman say – Your eggs is getting cold!
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Mama, something is happening between Walter and me. I don’t know what it is – but he needs something – something I can’t give him anymore. He needs this chance, Lena.
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Act 2, Scene 1
Quotes
Well – well! – All I can say is – if this is my time in life – MY TIME – to say good-bye – to these goddamned cracking walls! – and these marching roaches! – and this cramped little closet which ain’t now or never was no kitchen! . . . then I say it loud and good, HALLELUJAH! AND GOOD-BYE MISERY . . . I DON’T NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR UGLY FACE AGAIN!
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