Chromatism in Eugene O’Neill’s All God’s Chillun Got Wings
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70036/cltls.v1i3.39Keywords:
Chromatism, Postcolonialism, All God’s Chillun Got Wings, Eugene O’NeillAbstract
General Background: African Americans in the 20th century faced numerous adversities and pervasive feelings of inferiority, a reality deeply rooted in societal structures. Specific Background: The concept of chromatism, which critiques the oversimplification and stereotypical differentiation of race, remains a controversial topic within contemporary literature. Despite its significance, few researchers have exhaustively examined this issue. Knowledge Gap: While chromatism has been explored in various contexts, its application to Eugene O’Neill’s play All God’s Chillun Got Wings has not been thoroughly investigated. Aims: This study aims to analyze O’Neill’s play through the lens of Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin’s Post-colonial Studies: The Key Concepts (2013), incorporating the principles of chromatism to provide a nuanced understanding of racial dynamics within the text. Results: The analysis reveals that O’Neill effectively portrays the struggles of African Americans through the character of Jim, who continually strives to prove his worth in a predominantly white society. Despite his achievements, Jim’s internalized sense of inadequacy, stemming from his black race, consistently impedes his ability to succeed in passing the bar exam. Novelty: This study is significant as it applies the concept of chromatism to All God’s Chillun Got Wings for the first time, offering a novel perspective on the interplay between race and personal achievement in postcolonial literature. Implications: The findings underscore the enduring impact of racial stereotypes and the importance of addressing chromatism in literary analysis, contributing to broader discussions on race, identity, and postcolonial studies.
Highlights:
- Chromatism critiques the oversimplification and stereotyping of race.
- Eugene O’Neill’s All God’s Chillun Got Wings is analyzed using postcolonial concepts.
- The protagonist, Jim, struggles with a sense of inadequacy due to his race.
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