Langston Hughes's play Mulatto unravels a tense drama set entirely within the confines of a grand Georgian plantation home. The narrative unfolds as Colonel Thomas Norwood, the white master of the estate, grapples with his mixed-race children, born to Cora, his African American housekeeper. Central to the story is the ensuing conflict between Norwood and his defiant son, Robert, who straddles the racial lines of both his heritage and the oppressive societal norms of the South.

The Unchanging Setting

The entire play takes place within the "Big House" on Colonel Norwood's Georgia plantation. Colonel Norwood is already agitated at the play's opening because his youngest daughter, Sallie, has not yet left for school. Sallie is one of Norwood's children with Cora, and despite being a "mulatto," she has a complexion light enough to be mistaken for white. Norwood's frustration is compounded by Robert's absence; Robert, who Cora affectionately calls Bert, had gone to town without permission to pick up radio tubes. Instead of having Bert drive Sallie to the station, he's left wondering where his son is, and stewing over his insubordination. Norwood is adamant that Robert should be picking cotton in the fields and threatens physical punishment to enforce his will.

The Farewell

As Sallie bids farewell to Norwood, she expresses gratitude for the opportunity to attend school. Norwood feels content that she is learning domestic skills, though when Sallie mentions her ambition to become a teacher, Norwood dismisses it outright. He muses about sending her to live with her older sister, under the mistaken belief that she is a cook, further hinting at his detachment from their personal aspirations. Meanwhile, Robert finally returns from town, just as Fred Higgins, a local politician, arrives with warnings about Robert's behavior in town. Robert had argued with a postal clerk over destroyed radio tubes, leading to a scene that, in Higgins' eyes, threatened to embolden other black people in the area to challenge their place in society.

Society's Expectations

Higgins advises Norwood to marry a white woman instead of continuing his relationship with Cora, suggesting it would be more respectable and would help enforce stricter discipline on the plantation. As Norwood departs to inspect his fields, he instructs Cora to arrange a conversation with Robert. Cora, reflecting on the past, points out a doily Sallie made to her son William, the oldest of Norwood's children with Cora. When William's son Billy questions if Norwood is his grandfather, William notes that Robert has been openly declaring their lineage. In a poignant recollection, Cora and William remember the first time Norwood beat Robert for mistakenly calling him "papa" in front of influential white guests, underscoring the perilous line Robert walks with his bold demeanor.

Confrontation and Defiance

Robert returns to the Big House, brazenly referring to himself as "Mr. Norwood." Seeing his mother in distress, he briefly drops his bravado and confesses his intent to embrace his white heritage. His education, Robert argues, taught him that not all African Americans have to subjugate themselves as they do on the plantation. His declaration leads to a physical altercation with William, which Cora swiftly interrupts. She implores Robert to heed her warnings about the dangers his actions bring upon them all, especially after his clash at the post office. Despite her pleas, Robert vows never to work in the cotton fields again, mirroring Cora's own secret—lying to Norwood about Sallie's true studies in typewriting rather than cooking and sewing.

The Tipping Point

When Norwood returns home, an unwelcome confrontation occurs as Robert insists on using the front door like a white man, nearly colliding with...