At the beginning of Act 2, Scene 2, George Murchison exclaims that he doesn't want to discuss "quiet desperation" during a conversation with Beneatha after their date.

George is quoting a famous line from Henry David Thoreau's Walden, Thoreau's reflective account of his experience living in the woods near Walden pond, which states, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation."

The full quote reads, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the desperate country, and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind. There is no play in them, for this comes after work. But it is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things."

In your notebook, what do you think this quote is meant to speak to about life and perhaps what do you think Beneatha was trying to talk to George about?

Why does George date Beneatha and what does he not like about her (50)? What could Hansberry be trying to highlight here?

Mrs. Johnson comes over and gives the family some news, what is it and what can we connect this back to (53)? What does she predict will happen next month (54)?

Mama stands up for Walter when Mrs. Johnson states, “Ain’t nothing wrong with being a chauffeur” (54). What does she explain? How does this show us a different side of Walter and Mama’s relationship?

Ms. Johnson quotes Booker T. Washington, who advocated for African Americans to focus on vocational education, economic self-reliance, and gradual acceptance into society rather than challenging segregation, “Education has spoiled many a good plow hand” (54), what does the quote mean? Is it meant to sway people away from education? How can education spoil a “plow hand,” or a worker?

Walter hasn’t been to work in three days (56). How might we characterize this as selfishness? Who else has been selfish or self-centered and where can we see this?

At the end of Act 2, Scene 1, Walter tells Mama that she is the head of the household. However, in Act 2, Scene 2, Mama sees the condition Walter is in and decides to do something, what is it and why does she do this (56-57)? What does she confess to Walter?

When Walter receives the money, how does he become like his own father? What does Travis want to be and how does Walter react (57)? How is this similar to what his father told him? (Check page 18!)

What is your reaction to the ending of Act 2, Scene 2 (58)? What’s happening to Walter and how does he view success? How might this showcase how Walter wants to be seen in the family?

How has Walter and Ruth’s relationship changed at the beginning of this scene (59-60)? What have they been doing? What is Walter doing throughout the scene out of his newfound joy?

A Mr. Lindner of the “Clybourne Park Improvement Association” (62-64) comes to the door, what does he want? What is his role and how could this scene illustrate institutional racism?

Mr. Lindner talks about “a dream of the kind of community” (64) that Clybourne Park wants to be, what does it want to be? What are some of his reasonings?

What is the effect that he keeps calling the family “you people”?

Mr. Lindner reassures that “race prejudice simply doesn’t enter into” (64) the reason why they are talking, how is this ironic? How does this illustrate how racism is hard to fight?

Why doesn’t the family listen to Mr. Lindner’s offer?

Mr. Lindner said it wasn’t “racial prejudice,” but what does he mean when he says, “Well—I don’t understand why you people are reacting this way. What do you think you are going to gain by moving into a neighborhood where you just aren’t wanted and where some element—well—people can get awful worked up when they feel that their whole way of life and everything they’ve ever worked for is threatened” (64-65)? Perform some analysis of this quote, was this really a welcome? How might we categorize this as gaslighting the Youngers?

Who shows up after Mama receives two gifts from the family? What news does he have? What happened with Willy Harris (69-71)?

Walter, in frustration, explains that he “trusted [Bobo]… Man, I put my life in your hands…” (70). What does this remind you of? What does Walter say the money is made out of and why does he say this?

Walter’s dream is crushed by this news, but whose dream is crushed as well? What did Walter do? Where can we see this foreshadowed from before? What did Walter say he was willing to risk on page 42?

Why is this money so important? What does it symbolize for each character (Big Walter, Mama, Walter, Ruth, and Beneatha). 

Read the setting at the beginning of Act 3 (72), what can we gather from the scenery? Where is everyone and what was the mood an hour earlier in Act 2, Scene 3? How do Walter and Beneatha feel?

Beneatha tells a story of her childhood (72-73). What happened and what was the significance of this narrative? Why does she want to be a doctor?

On page 77, Mama enters the room, how does she look and what does she do? What could this be symbolic of? What does Mama decide for the family?

Who has Walter called and why (78-79)? What does Walter say about life? How is this similar or different to what Mama said about life moments ago? What has he decided to do? Is Walter still the dreamer he once was?

Mama, with pain, tells Walter, “You making something inside me cry, son. Some awful pain inside me” (79). Why does Mama state this? What does Mama explain about the family’s previous generations? Why is this a step backwards?

Mama and Beneatha fight about Walter’s new apathetic and defeatist behavior, what do they say (81)? How do each of them feel and what does Mama want Beneatha to do? When is it the time to love somebody the most?

Mama wants Travis to stay in the room when Mr. Lindner arrives (82), why? What does Mama want Travis to see? What is she indirectly trying to do?

What does Walter say about the people he comes from? Be specific. What does Walter end up deciding for the family (82)?

Beneatha tells Mama that Asagai asked her to marry him and wants her to go to Africa, how does the family respond (83)? How is this response different from what we’d expect from her?

Look closely at the ending of the play, how does the mood compare to the beginning of the play? What does this show us?

Mama explains that Walter found his manhood (84). How has Walter acted like a child before, and how has he matured? In your opinion, has he progressed?

What is your reaction to the ending of the play? How do you think the family is after everything that has happened? Are they better for the experience or worse? Do they have a future? Are their dreams still intact? Be specific!