Act 2, Scene 1 Summary

Later Saturday: Ruth is ironing. Beneatha emerges in full Nigerian regalia with headdress, coquettishly fanning herself like a Japanese Geisha. She does a Nigerian folk dance. Walter enters under the influence of alcohol and joins her, dancing on the table.

George Murchison enters to take Beneatha to the theater. He is Beneatha's pretentious, wealthy suitor. He enjoys flaunting his worldliness and the fact that he has been to New York to the untraveled Ruth. His family plans to take over a hotel on Lake Shore Drive, Chicago's most prestigious address, which he familiarly calls "The Drive."

Beneatha tolerates George's company but displays little attraction to him. George disparages Beneatha's interest in Africa. He urges Beneatha to act more "normal," sophisticated and docile. Beneatha continues to be as outspoken and opinionated as ever. George demands that Beneatha change out of the Nigerian...