Analysis Of Beneficial Selfishness In Shakespeare's 'Beneatha'

Beneficial Selfishness

These days, our youth is highly encouraged to do something with their lives. For example, joining clubs or sports programs gives us new skills and improves our life quality tremendously. The youth are told attempting new activities will benefit them when they grow up, so we shouldn’t respond to Beneatha’s attitude about life negatively. She is a woman who was born in the wrong time period who portrays the gender roles for women we have today, rather than traditional women in the 1950’s. Unfortunately, Beneatha gets mocked by her family for being curious and for living vivaciously. Even though Beneatha flits around and explores new fields often, it would go against our nature not to be inquisitive. Throughout the play, Beneatha presents herself as self centered,selfish and arrogant, but being self centered actually will benefit her.

Although Beneatha is more intellectually advanced, as well as being college educated, her family ceases to acknowledge her true

In fact, in the play, it is seen as greedy and self centered to even suggest desire to learn. Beneatha did not care much about anyone,but herself, let alone care about people’s thoughts on her aspiring dreams to be a doctor. Ruth, Walter and Mama all work to support each other, but instead of taking a job to contribute to the money for the family, instead, Beneatha decides to do things only for herself . She even has the benefit of attending school while living under their roof. The result of her self-indulgence was, being more sophisticated, speaking in a more educated manner and ultimately, the chance of getting her dream job. Being selfish may not only helps her, but it could help others around