This paper seeks to analyze and interpret Baraka’s play Dutchman (1964) from a critical race perspective. The paper focuses on exploring the ways of how racism and the concept of race are depicted, and the way of how black identity is constructed. In order to do so, the analysis will be based on a close reading of relevant text sections taking the protagonist’s choice of words, behavior and actions, especially Clay’s monologue, into consideration. The outline of the literary and socio-political context of the 1960s and Amiri Baraka’s work and activism will serve as the introductory starting point of this paper. To provide a critical race theoretical way of reading the play, the Critical Race Theory, including their origins, beliefs and depictions of the concept of race and racism, will be delineated and then applied to relevant text sections of Dutchman. The main attention of the analysis will go to the depiction of race and racism and to the protagonists’ development throughout the play with regard to race, identity and power. Then, this paper will conclude by summarizing the main findings and critically discussing the meaning of Dutchman in order to defend a black dramaturgy produced by black artists for black audiences and to discover a unique African American persona and voice.
- Quote paper
- Anonymous (Author), 2022, Analyzing and interpreting "Dutchman" (1964) from a Critical Race Theory perspective, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1692460
