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   These lines are said by "Emperor" Jones to Smithers his accomplice in the opening scene of the play.

   Jones originally worked in the Pullman cars in America and was once imprisoned. He escaped from prison and took shelter in a remote island in the West Indies. He is now the "Emperor" of this island.  Smithers is "a cockney trader" who knows the past of Jones and when Smithers tries to threaten him with this piece of information, Jones tells Smithers that he has also been to jail.  At once Smithers retorts angrily,"And as for me breakin' laws, you've broke 'em all yerself just as fast as yer made 'em." It is then that Jones utters these lines,"Ain't I de Emperor? De laws don't go for him.....I winds up Emperor in two years."

   Thes lines express the pride and arrogance of Jones. He says that since he is the ruler, he is the one who makes the laws but at the same time these laws do not apply to him. He considers himself  a demigod who is above the law. This speech marks the hubris or the pride which brings about the downfall of the protagonist Jones.

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   Posted by lit24 on Tuesday September 9, 2008 at 10:27 AM