The Emperor Jones

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1920

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Before You Read

Summary

Background

Scene Summaries & Analyses

Scenes 1-2

Scenes 3-4

Scenes 5-6

Scenes 7-8

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

How does the character Henry Smithers represent the colonialist perspective and the dynamics of power in the play? What does his attitude toward Jones reveal about these dynamics?

Explore the significance of Jones’s admission of guilt in Scene 5 and how it marks a turning point in his character development. How does it contribute to the development of the theme of guilt in the play?

How does the play comment on the broader historical context of American imperialism in the early 20th century?