The
representation of race in various plays is important in showing the manner
through which individuals in American society viewed one another. This is
especially the case in plays that are set in the era of slavery, showing the
manner through which the various characters see the members of other races,
such as the way that whites view blacks, and the justification for the
institution of slavery. Race and slavery are institutions that are tied
together in such a way that promotes the idea that it is the right of one race
to enslave the other; a situation that essentially leads to the conflict that
is seen in plays such as Mulatto: A Play
of the Deep South, and Uncle Tom’s
Cabin. In this paper, there will be an analysis of the representation of
race in these two plays and the manner through which the various characters
within them deal with the issue of race and racial relations.
One
of the most fundamental aspects of these plays is that they handle such issues
as the statuses of mulattoes and the children of slaves. Mulattoes are depicted
as being stuck in a world where they are neither white nor black but are
instead in a confused state where they are not able to decide where they
belong. This depiction is seen in Mulatto,
where the character of Robert, who is the son of a white plantation owner and
his slave, feels that he should not be treated any differently from the white
people in society. A result is that there are constant warnings concerning the
potential tragedy that Robert might bring not only to himself, but also to
other slaves in the region (Hughes).
In addition, Uncle Tom’s Cabin seeks
to show the fate that awaits the children of slaves, especially in situations
where their masters believe that they have to sell them. One of the first
incidents that take place in the play is where Eliza escapes with her son in
order to avoid having her son sold by her owners because the latter need the
money. Furthermore, later in the play, the character of Cassy is introduced,
and she is an individual who was separated from her son and daughter after they
were sold. Her story is a tragic one because she ends up in a situation where
she makes the terrible decision to kill her third child rather than get
separated from it (Aiken).
Therefore, the fate of the children of slaves seems to be doomed to slavery,
and this is to such an extent that they are often separated from their parents.
Among
the most significant aspects of the representation of race in these plays is
the constant depiction, by some characters, of blacks being inferior to their
white counterparts. This is especially the case in Uncle Tom’s Cabin where Uncle Tom is forced into situations that
would daunt any other human being. For example, despite having a wife and
children of his own, his owners do not hesitate to separate him from them when
they sell him to a new owner. In addition, Uncle Tom is forced into a situation
where he is tortured by Legree, his new owner, who is hostile to him because
Tom will not submit to his will (Aiken).
The brutality that Legree delivers on Uncle Tom is based on racial prejudice
and this is to such an extent that it eventually causes the death of Uncle Tom.
In Mulatto, Norwood is criticized by
members of his society for having a relationship with his slave, with one,
Higgins, going as far as suggesting that Norwood gets married (Hughes).
He suggests marriage because of the belief that the presence of a white woman
on the plantation will help Norwood not to treat his slaves so softly. This is
an important indication of the belief that blacks are inferior because Norwood’s
relationship with his slave, Cora, is seen as scandalous to such an extent that
Norwood is torn between acknowledging his children and seeking to ensure that
they are forced into becoming more submissive.
The
humanity of the black people is depicted in both plays, especially considering
that some of their white counterparts look upon them as little more than
animals. In Mulatto, there is an
attempt to depict the humanity of the characters, especially Cora and her son
Robert. Robert is an individual who is proud of his white heritage and believes
that it is a means of ensuring that his rights as a human being are recognized.
Furthermore, he is an individual who, unlike his siblings, seeks to ensure that
Norwood acknowledges him as his son, despite the scandal that it might cause as
a result (Hughes).
In the course of the play, Cora, following Robert’s murder of Norwood, is shown
to have a sense of bitterness because Norwood did not acknowledge any of their
children together. In Uncle Tom,
there is also an attempt to depict the humanity of blacks through a diversity
of methods, including showing the manner through which Eliza makes the decision
to escape slavery because she does not want to be separated from her son (Aiken).
In addition, Uncle Tom is shown to be a deeply religious individual, whose
faith is the one thing that ensures that he is able to endure a life in
slavery. His close friendship with Eva, a white girl, because of their common
interest in their faith as Christians is also essential in promoting an image
of Uncle Tom as being a very human individual. Also, it is Uncle Tom who
encourages Cassy to escape their enslavement by Legree, which is an extremely
brutal experience.
The
theme of desire for freedom is another fundamental aspect of the two plays
because it is essential to the understanding of the representation of race. Unlike
their white counterparts, who are essentially born free, the black people or
those with black blood are born into slavery because of their racial status. In
Uncle Tom, the escapes made by Eliza,
and later by Cassy, are based on a desire to achieve the same freedoms that are
exercised by the free members of society. A consequence is that these characters
seek refuge in a country where it would be declared free, that is, Canada (Aiken).
This was at a period in history when the British had declared slavery illegal
in their empire, meaning that it was a safe place for them to start their lives
as free individuals. In Mulatto,
Robert is seen to be an individual that is determined to attain his freedom,
and this is based on his belief that because he is Norwood’s son, he has the
right to be free. This is a fundamental aspect of the play because it depicts
an individual who is able to make sure that he not only accepts who he is, but
is determined to ensure that society accepts him as well, despite his having a
black mother who is also a slave. Robert refuses to accept the reality of his
enslavement and is determined to fight against it in order to become free.
In
conclusion, Mulatto and Uncle Tom’s Cabin are essential plays when it comes to
the representation of race. They suggest that race is made use of to enforce a
social order where one race establishes dominance over another. A consequence
is that there is both conflict and resistance on the part of some individuals
as they seek to overcome the burdens established by the highly oppressive
social order.