The Octoroon

The ending of The Octoroon was changed for British audiences, as Zoe does not commit suicide, but rather leaves for England with George so that they can be married in a land that does not bar interracial marriage. Compare the two versions of the play with each ending. How do the play’s themes and broader message change if Zoe doesn’t die?

The Octoroon was a controversial play on both sides of the slavery debate when it debuted, as both abolitionists and pro-slavery advocates believed the play took the other camp’s side. Make an argument for each side of the slavery argument here, analyzing how the play could be read as both anti- and pro-slavery.

Examine Wahnotee as a character in the play and how he fits into the play’s racial hierarchy. What does his treatment from the other characters suggest about how Native Americans were perceived in society at the time, and how does this compare with the treatment of African Americans?

One of the characteristics of melodrama is the use of stock characters, which the play does here using such “types” as the villain (M’Closky) and romantic hero (George). Examine three characters in the play and consider how they fit into the mold of a “stock character.” Do you think relying on these character types helps or hinders the play overall?

Consider the character of Pete, a kind slave who is depicted sympathetically but now may be read as an “Uncle Tom” character who is overly subservient to whites. What can you learn about the state of race relations and slavery at the time through Pete’s behavior and how he’s treated by the white characters? How does his character changes when viewed through a modern lens?

The Octoroon is subtitled Life in Louisiana, and the play deals heavily with Southern themes. At the same time, the play also involves other areas of the world: M’Closky and Scudder are from Northern states in the US, while George has just returned from Europe. What can you learn through the play about each of these regions and how audiences at the time would have perceived them? How does Boucicault characterize the South, North, and Europe?

One of the motifs in the play is using language to heighten the action and delineate between characters and their education and social class. Illustrate three specific examples of how language and the way in which a character speaks reveals something about that character.

While The Octoroon may be an accurate depiction of racial relations in the pre-Civil War South, its depiction of race is very offensive when considered from a modern-day perspective. Is there any way for The Octoroon, as it was written, to be performed today, and what do you think the reaction would be? What value does the play offer for modern-day readers and audiences?