One for Whom Bread is Not Enough

Funniest interaction of the day: I'm teaching A Raisin in The Sun and Joseph Asagai, the charmer from Nigeria, shows up. He refers to Beneatha sweetly with the nickname "Alaiyo," a Yoruba word that the audience is not supposed to understand until Asagai explains it a few lines later.

He haltingly translates it as "One for Whom Bread is Not Enough" - the perfect nickname for Beneatha who is never satisfied and is striving to better herself by going to medical school.

So, I asked the class, what does Asagai's nickname "One for Whom Bread is Not Enough" symbolize? Why is it a good nickname for her?

Student (knowingly): She's fat.

Comments

  1. Tracy BroschMarch 20, 2024 at 5:59 AM

    I wish I had a record of every hilarious interaction with students. Enjoying this phrase... "one for whom bread is not enough," and will think on it more deeply today. Thanks for the distraction!

    ReplyDelete

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