Act 2 Scene 1

Question 1

A new character is being introduced here:
George

Answer 1

He is not as ‘pterotic’ to his race. Although he is black, but he does things the American way of doing things. Talks about all the American stuff and don’t like it when Benetha tries to be in a original form

Question 2

Another turning point of Walter and Ruth’s relationship?

Answer 2

1. Ruth apologises tenderly to Walter
   -R: ‘ Oh, Walter… (softly) Honey, why can’t you stop fighting me?’ Ruth giving in to Walter, going soft on her tone with Walter, she is trying to patch things up between them
   -The both of them reconnects with each other

Question 3

The use of ellipsis here

Answer 3

• The constant use of ellipsis shows the tone and the atmosphere of how the conversation was going on, slow and gentle not something Ruth and Walter would usually be like
  ‘ Honey….life don’t have to be like this. I mean sometimes people can do things so that things are better….. You remember how we used to talk when Travis was born… about the way we were going to live… the kind of house…’

Question 4

Walter being old Walter

Answer 4

’ Mama enters , and Walter jumps up and shouts at her’ this sudden eruption where he jumps up (intensity) Complete different from the previous moment where he was talking to Ruth about life and patching things up

Question 5

Walter being really desperate

Answer 5

’ Mama where have you been all day?’
The quote ‘all day’ implies the fact that Walter has been waiting all day just for the cheque. As he repeats his qn the second time, he longs for the attention from Mama, he wished that Mama would answer him.

Question 6

Walter throwing tantrum like a child again

Answer 6

’ (rising and bending over the table)…….(Bringing his fists down and shouting)……’
- As He loses patience as he found out Mama went and do something with the insurance money he elevates his height trying to create an intimidating image to Mama.
- The part where he needed to shout to gain everyone’s attention shows how ineffectual he is, shows how not seriously he is taken for in the family

Question 7

The Idea of racism here is being portrayed

Answer 7

Mama: ‘Four o six Clybourne Street,.. Clybourne Park’
a place only the whites stay in
Ruth: ‘Clybourne Park? Mama, there ain’t no coloured people living in Clybourne Park.’ Although Ruth was very happy there were moving however the fact that they needed to be the first coloured family to stay there makes her a little hesitant

Question 8

The new side of Ruth?!

Answer 8

‘God-damned crackling walls!’
‘These marching roaches’
‘Then I say it loud and good’
‘ Ugly face’
‘ Now or never ‘
‘again’
Shows her inner most thoughts of the current living condition, she unleashes her inner misery out and shows how much she despises the living condition now.