Mulatto: a word that few may be familiar with, but that so many of us in today's society can relate to. By the definition found online at www.dictionary.com, mulatto is defined as the offspring of one white parent and one black parent. Although mulatto is a characteristic that now in the 21st century, we have nearly all grown to accept, Langston Hughes's play titled "Mulatto" reminds us that it has not always been this way. 1.
"Mulatto", by Langston Hughes, is an emotionally engaging drama. It evokes the reader's and/or viewers emotions through many dramatic situations from beginning through to the very end. The audiences become emotionally involved beginning at the onset of the father son conflict. The conflict is a result of, the father, Colonel Norwood's denial and non-accepting of Robert, a mulatto, being his son. Turner, the founder of the Darwin Turner scholarship and youngest graduate of Cincinatti University, explains that "Robert has hated his father for refusing to recognize their relationship, of which he himself had been proud." (Darwin T. Turner)2.
The next emotionally arousing point comes when Robert enters his home in quest of acquiring his father's last name. During these times it was unheard of for a white man to have mulatto children. Assumed to be a disgrace. So although Robert clearly and intensely resembles his father, he will not grant him the privilege of baring his last name. Even though Robert has so long kept his anger inside, the tension escalated beyond control. Thus, leading to Colonel Norwood pulling a gun on Robert, and unable to pull the trigger is murdered by Robert.3.
Following that heart breaking event, comes the mother leaning over the Colonel's body and blaming him for the fate she knew was upon her their son, the sure fate of death. However, before others could create Robert's fate, he took his own life.4.
The play's emotionally intense events clearly evoked its intended audiences.
