Skip to main content

What is a short summary of The Emperor Jones?

The Emperor Jonesis a play written by Eugene O'Neill in 1920. The main character, Brutus Jones, is an African-American man who formerly worked as a Pullman porter on the railroads. After killing another African-American man in a dice game, he flees to a West Indian island and establishes himself as emperor with the help of a Cockney man named Henry Smithers. Jones learns that his subjects are going to rebel, and he tries to...

The Emperor Jones is a play written by Eugene O'Neill in 1920. The main character, Brutus Jones, is an African-American man who formerly worked as a Pullman porter on the railroads. After killing another African-American man in a dice game, he flees to a West Indian island and establishes himself as emperor with the help of a Cockney man named Henry Smithers. Jones learns that his subjects are going to rebel, and he tries to escape through the jungle with a silver bullet as a charm that he thinks will protect him.


In the jungle, Jones hears the beats of drums and comes upon a phantom of Jeff, the man he killed in the dice game. Scared, Jones shoots the ghost-like figure, who disappears. Jones then comes upon a chain gang, which he is forced to join. He shoots at the head of the gang, who also disappears. Repenting of the murders he committed, Jones then encounters a slave auction from the 1850s. When he is put on the auction block, he fires at the auctioneer and planter, who similarly dissolve. Jones also finds the hold of a slave ship, and then he encounters a Congo witch doctor who urges him to sacrifice himself. A crocodile appears, inching towards Jones. When Lem, the leader of the rebels, finds Jones the next morning, he shoots him with a silver bullet (which he believes is the only thing that will kill Jones) and believes this is what killed him, but Smithers believes Jones has died of fright. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

What gift did Della buy for Jim and why in "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which... Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.  Della is still willing to sell her hair so she can b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more