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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page essay that examines the manner in which Langston Hughes addressed stereotypes in his 1957 play Simply Heavenly. The writer argues that within the boundaries of what whites might consider stereotypical, Hughes crafts characters who are real and genuine. While Hughes acknowledges stereotypical paradigms, he does not use them to denigrate his characters, but rather to extol them. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
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3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khlhsh.rtf
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man" called "Melon" who selling watermelons; a buxom black woman named Mamie who is described as a "great big bundle of joy"; and, of course, the protagonist Jesse B. Semple,
called "Simple," who might strike some whites, particularly in its original 1957 audience as stereotypical of the black working class man (Wolf 37). However, closer examination of the play shows
that the characters are not stereotypical. Within the boundaries of what whites might consider stereotypical, Hughes crafts characters who are real and genuine. While Hughes acknowledges stereotypical paradigms, he does
not use them to denigrate his characters, but rather to extol them. The character of Jesse B. Semple ("Simple") was created by Hughes for a daily column in a
Black newspaper, which Hughes wrote from 1942 to 1949 (Simms-Burton 420). Simply Heavenly is a folk play with music, a comedy about everyday life in Harlem in the 1950s (which
is when Hughes wrote and produced it) (Nesmith 459). In this work, Hughes creates an affectionate picture of the Harlem community, which is evident in the fondness and respect that
the characters show for each other (Nesmith 459). The plays consists of a series of vignettes that revolve around Simples courtship of girlfriend Joyce. An early scene that is
indicative of Hughes stance toward stereotype portrayal is where Mamie is discussing the virtues of watermelons with Melon. An unnamed character, who is also a patron of the bar in
which the scene occurs, stands up and says, "Stereotypes! Thats all both of you are. Disgraceful stereotypes!" (Hughes 93). The man is obviously deeply offended that neither Mamie not Melon
neither hide nor seem ashamed of their liking for watermelons. Mamie responds indignantly, "Mister, you better remove yourself from my presence before I stereo your type!" (Hughes 93-94). Mamie goes
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