Beneatha's arc addresses gender expectations by which of the following?

• A. By abandoning education to marry.
• B. By focusing on domestic duties exclusively.
• C. By pursuing higher education and independence, challenging traditional gender roles.
• D. By ignoring personal goals altogether.

Answer: (C)

Beneatha challenges gender expectations by pursuing higher education and independence, which pushes against the traditional idea that a woman’s path centers on marriage and domestic life. Her goal to become a doctor shows she wants a professional, intellectual life and financial autonomy rather than a predefined role. This arc uses her choices—studying, questioning identity, and embracing her own aspirations—to illustrate a shift in how women can define their futures in the play. The other paths described don’t fit her story: she doesn’t abandon education to marry, she doesn’t focus exclusively on domestic duties, and she doesn’t ignore her goals. Instead, she asserts her right to education, self-definition, and independence.