Right here is the PowerPoint to our Characterization
Asagai
Questions About Characterization
1. Asagai is a flat and simple character because the readers only see him as the character who persuades Beneatha to marry him by bringing her back to her African roots, by introducing Afrocentrism to her. His dominant traits are his ability to persuade Beneatha to grow more fond of him, his nationalistic characteristics, and prideful. He is also very romantic as he tries to woo her with gifts from Africa. In Act II, Scene II, Asagai presents gifts to her, such as the records and a traditional African robe. He establishes the conflicts in the plot because he is one of the two men, George being the other, that Beneatha has to choose the marry. Therefore, he is part of the minor conflict of Beneatha being caught between two men, Asagai being the one who woos her with his love and romance and George flattering her with his wealth and opulence.
2. NOT APPLICABLE
5. Asagai doesn’t wear a “mask” in the story because he is an upfront character and exposes his character thoroughly to Beneatha. Asagai speaks his mind to have Beneatha know all sides of him so she may be persuaded to marry him.
6./10. The portrayal of Asagai in the most important scene where he exists would be expressed in a loving way. It is clear that he does love her and he is very proud
Thinking on paper about Cauterization
1. NOT APPLICABLE
2. When Asagai is first introduced into the story, he brings traditional African clothing to Beneatha and tells her that he must “show her how to drape it properly”. He then exclaims a Yoruba phrase of admiration “oh-pay-gay-day, oh-gbah-mu-shay” at the sight of Beneatha dressed in traditional garb; saying “you wear it well...very well...mutilated hair and all” (“mutilated hair” refers to Beneatha’s straightened, Americanized hair). The name “Asagai” is also indicative of his African heritage because the word “Assegai” means a traditional wooden spear used to hunt.
4. Asagai’s main motivation for bringing gifts is his love for Beneatha. It is very clear that his main goal is to be in Beneatha’s favor as the first time he appears in the story, he brings her records and an African robe. Throughout the story, Asagai is kind to Beneatha and flirts with her “for you I would do much more”. The ultimate statement of his motivations occurs towards the end of the story, when Asagai tells Beneatha “I have a bit of a suggestion...that when it is all over--that you come home with me...home--to Africa”. [like Marcus Garvey; the pro-African nationalist/ proponent of the Back to Africa movement].
5. Asagai achieves his goal of Beneatha’s love by being a nice person (see aforementioned gifts) and by acting as a guide for Beneatha. After learning about Walter losing the money, Beneatha says that “I wanted to cure. It used to matter. I used to care” showing that losing the money also made her lose faith in her dream. Asagai then suggests moving to Nigeria with him to learn about medicine and her culture. “I will show you our mountains and our stars; and give you cool drinks from gourds and teach you the old songs and the ways of our people...” Asagai’s strategy of constantly supporting Beneatha proves to be very effective as at the end of the play, Beneatha seems resolved to marry him and go to Africa to practice medicine.
7. In the beginning, Asagai is mentioned briefly because of a phone conversation, “He’s an African boy I met on campus”, but his characterization changes when Beneatha and his family actually meet him for real. His character trait and personality are revealed almost immediately when he gives Beneatha a gift, showing his romantic and generous side. In the Act I Scene II, he is first introduced and give Beneatha a gift. Later in Act III Scene I, his personality grows even stronger in that he influences Beneatha, a main character, to rise above the situation that Walter has gotten the family into. This change is caused by Asagai’s love for Beneatha and the time period in which he is absent from the plot line only strengthens that.
Play is in chronological order; describing how a sequence of events transpired over the period of a few months. Play has three acts, with two, three, and one scenes, respectively.
1. Asagai is a flat and simple character because the readers only see him as the character who persuades Beneatha to marry him by bringing her back to her African roots, by introducing Afrocentrism to her. His dominant traits are his ability to persuade Beneatha to grow more fond of him, his nationalistic characteristics, and prideful. He is also very romantic as he tries to woo her with gifts from Africa. In Act II, Scene II, Asagai presents gifts to her, such as the records and a traditional African robe. He establishes the conflicts in the plot because he is one of the two men, George being the other, that Beneatha has to choose the marry. Therefore, he is part of the minor conflict of Beneatha being caught between two men, Asagai being the one who woos her with his love and romance and George flattering her with his wealth and opulence.
2. NOT APPLICABLE
5. Asagai doesn’t wear a “mask” in the story because he is an upfront character and exposes his character thoroughly to Beneatha. Asagai speaks his mind to have Beneatha know all sides of him so she may be persuaded to marry him.
6./10. The portrayal of Asagai in the most important scene where he exists would be expressed in a loving way. It is clear that he does love her and he is very proud
Thinking on paper about Cauterization
1. NOT APPLICABLE
2. When Asagai is first introduced into the story, he brings traditional African clothing to Beneatha and tells her that he must “show her how to drape it properly”. He then exclaims a Yoruba phrase of admiration “oh-pay-gay-day, oh-gbah-mu-shay” at the sight of Beneatha dressed in traditional garb; saying “you wear it well...very well...mutilated hair and all” (“mutilated hair” refers to Beneatha’s straightened, Americanized hair). The name “Asagai” is also indicative of his African heritage because the word “Assegai” means a traditional wooden spear used to hunt.
4. Asagai’s main motivation for bringing gifts is his love for Beneatha. It is very clear that his main goal is to be in Beneatha’s favor as the first time he appears in the story, he brings her records and an African robe. Throughout the story, Asagai is kind to Beneatha and flirts with her “for you I would do much more”. The ultimate statement of his motivations occurs towards the end of the story, when Asagai tells Beneatha “I have a bit of a suggestion...that when it is all over--that you come home with me...home--to Africa”. [like Marcus Garvey; the pro-African nationalist/ proponent of the Back to Africa movement].
5. Asagai achieves his goal of Beneatha’s love by being a nice person (see aforementioned gifts) and by acting as a guide for Beneatha. After learning about Walter losing the money, Beneatha says that “I wanted to cure. It used to matter. I used to care” showing that losing the money also made her lose faith in her dream. Asagai then suggests moving to Nigeria with him to learn about medicine and her culture. “I will show you our mountains and our stars; and give you cool drinks from gourds and teach you the old songs and the ways of our people...” Asagai’s strategy of constantly supporting Beneatha proves to be very effective as at the end of the play, Beneatha seems resolved to marry him and go to Africa to practice medicine.
7. In the beginning, Asagai is mentioned briefly because of a phone conversation, “He’s an African boy I met on campus”, but his characterization changes when Beneatha and his family actually meet him for real. His character trait and personality are revealed almost immediately when he gives Beneatha a gift, showing his romantic and generous side. In the Act I Scene II, he is first introduced and give Beneatha a gift. Later in Act III Scene I, his personality grows even stronger in that he influences Beneatha, a main character, to rise above the situation that Walter has gotten the family into. This change is caused by Asagai’s love for Beneatha and the time period in which he is absent from the plot line only strengthens that.
Play is in chronological order; describing how a sequence of events transpired over the period of a few months. Play has three acts, with two, three, and one scenes, respectively.