Critical Analysis of the Octoroon

The Octoroon, wholly considered second amongst antebellum melodramas, is a feed written by Irish author Dion Boucicaut. The dramatic undertake focuses on the Plantation Terrebonne, the Peyton terra firma and its residents, namely its slaves. During the fourth dimension of its premiere, The Octoroon, inspired conversations about the abolishment of slavery as well up as the overall mistreatment of the African Americans. Derived from the Spanish language, the word octoroon is delimit as single who is 1/8th dour. Zoe Peyton, , The Octoroon, is the supposedly freed biologic daughter of Judge Peyton, author owner of the plantation. In play, the lovers, Zoe and the judges overweening nephew, George Peyton, are thwarted in their quest by travel and the the evil maneuverings of a material-obsessed super named Jacob MClosky. MClosky wishings Zoe and Terrebonne, and schemes to buy both. Boucicaults play focuses on the denial of liberty, identity, and dignity, musical compositi on ironically preserving common black stereotypes of the antebellum period. The play does this by dint of several characters, most importantly, through Zoe and the Household slave Pete. sequence the author attempts to evoke anti-slavery sentiments, the play is largely in otiose of being a align indictment of slavery by further perpetuating the African American stereotypes.\nZoe, the octoroon, serves as a meat for the author to explore themes of racial prejudice without an excessively black protagonist; she is black, exclusively not too black. She plays the habit of the tragic mulatto a caudex character that was typical of antebellum literature. The purpose of the tragic mulatto was to pass on the referee to pity the troth of oppressed or enslaved carrys, but only through a veil of whiteness. through this veil the reader does not truly pity one of a different race but rather the reader pities one who is made as close to their race as possible. This is made evident pec uliarly in Zoes speech patt... If you want to get a all-embracing essay, order it on our website:

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