Research Paper: Gem of the Ocean
August Wilson 's Gem of the Ocean, set in Pittsburgh in 1904, is full of symbolism. From a slavery bill of sale to the collection of pure dog excretion, Wilson uses symbols to develop a story of how the recent departure from slavery affected African Americans in the early 1900 's. Throughout the play, a cast of characters is introduced, and each one individually represents the mindset of the most common personalities one can find during this time period. Phylicia Rashad describes the setting of Gem of the Ocean best in "Riding the Waves of History": "A generation has come through slavery, another generation is born shortly after Emancipation" (Rashad).
The play begins by introducing …show more content…
According to Wilson, Ester is described as "a very old, yet vital spiritual advisor for the community" (Gem of the Ocean 92). Khanal explains how important of a character Ester is: "An ex-slave old enough to have survived the Middle Passage, Aunt Ester 's experience encompasses the whole African American people 's suffering in America" (Fighting to Maintain the Hard Won Self in August Wilson 's Gem of the Ocean 83). In contrast to Citizen and other young African Americans during this time period, Ester has experienced the whole timeline through slavery and Emancipation, and offers guidance and wisdom to her community that none other can. She uses her wisdom to help unshackle the emotional slavery that African Americans in her community face. The biggest display of this, as described earlier, is the passage of Citizen on Esters Gem of the Ocean, in which she guides Citizen through his troubled past and helps him to identify who he is. Pittman explains this best by describing
The references to the slave trade and slavery, two histories that share the stage with the performers, are most clearly manifested through ship symbolism. However, the ship is not just a vehicle of captivity, it also operates as a sign of freedom (Rocking the Boat: The Value of Revolutionary Black Masculinity and Critiquing Neoliberal Capitalism in Gem of the Ocean and Radio Golf
August Wilson 's Gem of the Ocean, set in Pittsburgh in 1904, is full of symbolism. From a slavery bill of sale to the collection of pure dog excretion, Wilson uses symbols to develop a story of how the recent departure from slavery affected African Americans in the early 1900 's. Throughout the play, a cast of characters is introduced, and each one individually represents the mindset of the most common personalities one can find during this time period. Phylicia Rashad describes the setting of Gem of the Ocean best in "Riding the Waves of History": "A generation has come through slavery, another generation is born shortly after Emancipation" (Rashad).
The play begins by introducing …show more content…
According to Wilson, Ester is described as "a very old, yet vital spiritual advisor for the community" (Gem of the Ocean 92). Khanal explains how important of a character Ester is: "An ex-slave old enough to have survived the Middle Passage, Aunt Ester 's experience encompasses the whole African American people 's suffering in America" (Fighting to Maintain the Hard Won Self in August Wilson 's Gem of the Ocean 83). In contrast to Citizen and other young African Americans during this time period, Ester has experienced the whole timeline through slavery and Emancipation, and offers guidance and wisdom to her community that none other can. She uses her wisdom to help unshackle the emotional slavery that African Americans in her community face. The biggest display of this, as described earlier, is the passage of Citizen on Esters Gem of the Ocean, in which she guides Citizen through his troubled past and helps him to identify who he is. Pittman explains this best by describing
The references to the slave trade and slavery, two histories that share the stage with the performers, are most clearly manifested through ship symbolism. However, the ship is not just a vehicle of captivity, it also operates as a sign of freedom (Rocking the Boat: The Value of Revolutionary Black Masculinity and Critiquing Neoliberal Capitalism in Gem of the Ocean and Radio Golf