The Octoroon

The Octoroon is a play written by Dion Boucicault in 1859. The story is set in Louisiana and revolves around the life of Zoe, an octoroon (a person of one-eighth black ancestry) who is the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner. The play explores themes of race, identity, and love in the antebellum South.Zoe is in love with George Peyton, a white man who is the heir to a neighboring plantation. However, their love is forbidden due to their racial differences. Meanwhile, Zoe's father has died and left her in debt, and she is being pursued by two men who want to buy her as a slave.As the story unfolds, Zoe must navigate the complexities of her identity and the societal norms that restrict her freedom. The play also features a cast of colorful characters, including a scheming overseer, a conniving lawyer, and a group of slaves who rebel against their masters.The Octoroon was controversial in its time for its portrayal of race and its use of blackface. However, it remains a significant work in American theater history and is still performed today.M'Closky . Ask the color in your face: d'ye think I can't read you, like a book? With your New England hypocrisy, you would persuade yourself that it was this family alone you cared for; it ain't--you know it ain't--'tis the ""Octoroon""; and you love her as I do; and, you hate me because I'm your rival--that's where the tears come from, Salem Scudder, if you ever shed any--that's where the shoe pinches.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.