Enduring Love Act 1 Scene 5

In this short play we are taken into the world of 1920’s life of a black woman. The play is divided into 2 major parts. The first three scenes are set in the past, 1900 and the last scene is set in present day 1920s. In short manner it depicts a life of a black woman troubled by her extensive jealousy and deep hatred for her dark skin color.
Scene 1 is when we are first introduced to the main character of the play, Emmaline. She is a dancer and she is headed, with the rest of the crew, to a cake walk. We immediately know that John Turner and Emma are a couple because John explains that they were late for the train because Emma was griming for him smiling to Effie. At first Effie doesn’t seem to be an important part of the play but we soon
Emma lives alone with her mulatto daughter in a small one-room shack. Her daughter is sick and just as she wanted to go get the doctor again John Turner shows on her doors. For a few brief moments Emma allows herself to believe that she could be happy again, and that John Turner still loves her. She is promised a marriage even though she has an illegitimate daughter. John promises her that he will take them both in, and that he will love her daughter as his own. He doesn’t seem to be surprised that her daughter was a mulatto. John tries to reassure Emma that everything will be fine and that they will be happy again after 20 years of not seeing each other. But all hope vanishes from Emma’s mind when she sees John on Lou Lillian’s bed, taking care of her. All of her doubts and fears come back rushing, and once again she accuses John that he just can’t stay away from light skinned girls. It seems that this time John just had enough. For twenty years he was longing for her, adored her and worshiped her, and once again she dismissed everything because she hates her skin color and believes that John couldn’t love her. John leaves her once and for all and due to her preoccupation with John and her jealousy her daughter dies, and she is left all alone once
Emma cannot find an emotional and social sanctuary in her rural black culture due to her dark skin color, and the writer does not give us any indication of the racism Emma had to endure with. She is totally blind by her hatred toward her own skin color. But not all of her jealousy is without reason. Early in the play John’s behavior toward Effie can be seen as provocation; he knows how Emma fells toward mixed race girls and he still applauds Effie after her dancing and even choses her as his dance partner when Emma refuses to take part. And even toward the end his idolization of mulatto girls is shown with his fascination with Lou Lillian’s long, straight