The Emperor Jones Group

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tunka1968
tunka1968
Student
College - Senior

Briefly describe how Brutus Jones is introduced in the opening scene of "The Emperor Jones".

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Posted by tunka1968 on Wednesday September 17, 2008 at 5:18 AM and tagged with appearence, brutus jones, characters, opening scene, the emperor jones.

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  1. lit24
    lit24 Teacher
    Doctorate

    eNotes Editor

    The opening scene takes place "late afternoon" in "the audience chamber in the palace of the Emperor." Jones is fast asleep and is awakened by Smithers's shrill whistle. He makes his entrance "greatly irritated and blinking sleepily."

    Jones is a "full-blooded negro of middle age." His personality is marked by "an underlying strength of will, a hardy, self-reliant confidence in himself that inspires respect." He is dressed garishly in a bright coloured uniform, but he manages to "carry it
    off."

    The key to Jones' character is his self-reliance and his self-confidence. This is evident in the contempt he has for the white man and the "easy dignity with which he sits down on his throne." Jones is fully in control of the present situation and easily puts Smithers' in his place: "Talk polite white man! Talk polite, you heah me! I'm boss heah now, is you fergettin' ?"

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/emperor-jones

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    Posted by lit24 on Wednesday September 17, 2008 at 7:02 AM