39 pages • 1 hour read
The Emperor Jones
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Book Brief
64
Play • Fiction
Caribbean Island • 1920s
1920
Dover Publications
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Emperor Jones by Eugene O’Neill depicts the rise and fall of Brutus Jones, an escaped convict from the United States who becomes the emperor of a Caribbean island through deceit. When the islanders revolt, Jones attempts to flee through a forest, only to be haunted by visions of his past crimes, leading to his ultimate demise. Contains depictions of racial stereotyping and offensive language.
Mysterious
Dark
Unnerving
Suspenseful
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
2,439 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neill receives praise for its powerful portrayal of psychological descent and innovative use of expressionist techniques. Critics commend its intense atmosphere and groundbreaking structure. However, some reviews criticize its racial themes as dated and troubling. Overall, it's a bold, albeit controversial, piece in American drama.
Who Should Read The Emperor Jones?
A reader who would enjoy The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neill appreciates intense psychological dramas and themes of power and downfall. Fans of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness and Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman will find similar explorations of character and societal critique in O'Neill's work.
2,439 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Henry Smithers
Henry Smithers
A white Cockney sailor with a manipulative nature who plays a significant role in Jones’s rise to power. He harbors resentment towards Jones and is characterized by his unscrupulous and cowardly demeanor.
An Old Native Woman
An Old Native Woman
An islander dressed in humble attire who exhibits fear and vulnerability in the presence of Brutus Jones.
Lem
Lem
A leadership figure among the islanders who opposes Jones’s rule. His actions represent the islanders’ efforts to liberate themselves from oppression.
The Witch-Doctor
The Witch-Doctor
An Indigenous religious figure who appears in Jones's visions. His presence is a symbol of the consequences of Jones’s oppressive rule.
The Emperor Jones was notable for being the first American play to feature an African American actor in a leading role on Broadway, with Charles S. Gilpin debuting as Brutus Jones in 1920.
Eugene O'Neill wrote The Emperor Jones in just a few days, inspired by the rhythmic beats of a tom-tom drum, which also plays a significant thematic element in the play's structure and atmosphere.
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The innovative use of expressionistic techniques in The Emperor Jones, such as non-linear storytelling and psychological elements, helped establish Eugene O'Neill as a leading figure in bringing modernist theater to the United States.
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64
Play • Fiction
Caribbean Island • 1920s
1920
Dover Publications
Adult
18+ years
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