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Brutus Jones
Smithers is a cantankerous white sailor and a friend of sorts of Jones's. From his opening conversation with Jones, the viewer learns that Smithers gave Jones his start on the island by employing him, which allowed Jones to eventually become emperor. However, it also becomes clear that Smithers is exceptionally racist: he can barely contain his rage that Jones is a powerful emperor, and he speaks poorly of the black natives as well. Though at times Smithers seems to feel some genuine affection and admiration for Jones, his racism colors everything he says and does in relation to Jones and the natives. Jones points out that in ten years of trading with the natives, Smithers hasn't learned a word of their language even though doing so would certainly help him profit—an indication that Smithers doesn't see anything the natives do as worth his time or consideration. Because Smithers appears only in the first and last scenes and isn't a strictly necessary character in terms of plot, the play situates Smithers as a narrator of sorts and asks the reader and viewer to identify with him and with his interpretation of events. This reinforces Smithers's racist point of view as "correct" per the logic of the play.
Smithers Quotes in The Emperor Jones
The The Emperor Jones quotes below are all either spoken by Smithers or refer to Smithers. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Scene 1 Quotes
And I'm bloody glad of it, for one! Serve 'im right! Puttin' on airs, the stinkin' nigger! 'Is Majesty! Gawd blimey! I only 'opes I'm there when they takes 'im out to shoot 'im.
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The old woman just shared with Smithers that the natives escaped to the hills and are planning an attack on Jones. With this exclamation, Smithers shows the reader or viewer his own racist views: that Jones, a black man, is wholly undeserving of the kind of power he has as emperor. In turn, this is indicative of a general power structure that exists (though not on this island, exactly) in which white people have power simply because of the color of their skin, while black people are subjugated, demeaned, and treated as less than human because of their own skin Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Com
Talk polite, white man! Talk polite, you heah me! I'm boss heah now, is you fergettin'?
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When Smithers tries to point out to Jones that when Jones arrived on the island, he wasn't so high and mighty, Jones takes offense and reprimands Smithers. Jones's particular word choice when he calls Smithers "white man" shows that even if his island empire is very separate from governments and systems in the rest of the world, the conventional racial hierarchy still persists here. Jones must remind Smithers that they are different, and it's very much an insult to Smithers to remind him of his whiteness while a powerful black man dresses him down. This shows too how Smithers' power Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occa
No use'n you rakin' up ole times. What I was den is one thing. What I is now 's another.
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After Smithers apologizes for reminding Jones of his humble origins, Jones insists that the past is the past, and the present is very different. This suggests that Jones believes that he's truly escaped his past and has been able to write a new future for himself, entirely separate from the person he was in the US. This is one way that Jones actively separates himself from his humanity. In doing this, he refuses to take into account the things he's done in the past, either to learn from them or even just accept that they happened. In turn, then, this Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. V
You didn't s'pose I was holdin' down dis Emperor job for de glory in it, did you? Sho'! De fuss and glory part of it, dat's only to turn de heads o' de low-flung, bush niggers dat's here. Dey wants de big circus show for deir money. I gives it to 'em an' I gits de money.
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Jones confides to Smithers that he made himself emperor for the money alone, not the glory. However, the way that Jones conceptualizes how glory works shows that he has a very nuanced understanding of power and humans' natural attraction to that power. Jones is aware that the natives desperately want to see power performed. Further, even though it's inarguable that Jones is a tyrannical emperor because he keeps his subjects in line and paying taxes solely out of fear and intimidation, it's also important to note that conducting his empire this way has been very profitable for him. This shows, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Ap
Smithers: Look at the taxes you've put on 'em! Blimey! You've squeezed 'em dry!
Jones: No, dey ain't all dry yet. I'se still heah, ain't I?
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Jones insists that the natives still have money to pay taxes, as evidenced by the fact that he's still emperor. Jones, of course, is unaware that the natives have escaped to the hills to plan their revolt, a fact that both the reader/viewer and Smithers are aware of. This creates dramatic irony and shows that Jones is very overconfident in his abilities and interpretations of the state of his empire. This is a result of Jones elevating himself to the level of a god, as it forcibly distances Jones from his own humanity and sense of empathy for his subjects. Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. U
For de little stealin' dey gits you in jail soon or late. For de big stealin' dey makes you Emperor and puts in de Hall o' Fame when you croaks. If dey's one thing I learns in ten years on de Pullman ca's listenin' to de white quality talk, it's dat same fact. And when I gits a chance to use it I winds up Emperor in two years.
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Jones explains to Smithers his understanding of how crime and justice functions in the world: when carried out on a small scale, a perpetrator is punished, while large-scale crime yields fame and fortune. It's worth noting that Jones learned this from his white passengers on the Pullman sleeper trains, which automatically casts this interpretation in a racial light. Taking race into account, this becomes a damning explanation of the way that race is either rewarded or punished in the United States. Especially because of the time period in which the play takes place, it's important to keep in mind that Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Elige
You'd 'ave been in jail if you 'ad, wouldn't yer then? And from what I've 'eard, it ain't 'ealthy for a black to kill a white man in the States. They burns 'em in oil, don't they?
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Smithers questions whether Jones actually killed a white man in the United States, and brings up the fact that Jones would've likely been killed had he done so. Though Smithers is right—it's extremely impressive that Jones, who did actually kill a white prison guard, escaped with his life—this is one instance in the play when Smithers isn't given as much power as he often is because of the color of his skin. Because Smithers is an Englishman, he didn't grow up living and breathing the racist systems at work in the United States like Jones did (though England has its Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occa
Think dese ign'rent bush niggers dat ain't got brains enuff to know deir own names even can catch Brutus Jones? Huh, I s'pects not! Not on yo' life! Why, man, de white men went after me wid bloodhounds where I come from an' I jes' laughs at 'em. It's a shame to fool dese black trash around heah, dey're so easy.
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When Smithers reminds Jones that the forest is dark, dangerous, and the home of the natives, Jones scoffs and insists that the natives are too dumb to be able to properly give chase. With this, Jones showcases his internalized racism in several different ways. First, it's important to pay attention to how Jones speaks about the natives. The natives are black, just like Jones is, but he refuses to see them as humans just like him, and instead conceptualizes them as dumb, uncivilized, and wholly sub-human—in this way echoing the language of racist whites. On the other hand, Jones also Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi
Doesn't you know dey's got to do so wid a man was member in good standin' o' de Baptist Church? Sho' I was dat when I was porter on de Pullmans, befo' I gits into my little trouble. Let dem try deir heathen tricks. De Baptist Church done pertect me and land dem all in hell.
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As Smithers continues to remind Jones of how scary the forest is at night, Jones asserts that he has God on his side to help him get through the night. At this point in the play, the fact that Jones was once a member of the Baptist Church indicates that he was once a part of a belief system that positioned him as a man in the service of an actual deity. To a degree, Jones still buys into this system—but only when it serves him, as he hopes it will during his journey through the woods. This shows just Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tem
Does you think I'd slink out de back door like a common nigger? I'se Emperor yit, ain't I? And de Emperor Jones leaves de way he comes, and dat black trash don't dare stop him—not yit, leastways.
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As Jones heads for the woods, he insists on walking out the front of his palace instead of escaping unnoticed out the back. For Jones, this is a symbolic way of asserting his dominance and showing Smithers and the natives that Jones still believes he's powerful and superhuman. This is, of course, linked to Jones's lack of fear, which is what the play pinpoints as the reason why he's able to elevate himself to the level of a god. Again, Jones's language betrays the hierarchy he set up on the island, in which he as the emperor (but still a Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit
Scene 8 Quotes
Well, they did for yer right enough, Jonsey, me lad! Dead as a 'erring! Where's yer 'igh an' mighty airs now, yer bloomin' Majesty? Silver bullets! Gawd blimey, but yer died in the 'eighth o' style, any'ow!
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After Lem's soldiers bring Jones's dead body out of the woods, Smithers insults Jones's body and his superiority complex in life. Smithers, as the figure in charge of interpreting the first and last scenes for the reader or viewer, makes it clear to the audience that Jones was misguided from the start—as a black man, Jones never had any right to hold the kind of power he did on the island (per Smithers' racist logic). Further, Smithers was aware that Jones could be killed with lead bullets like any other man, which makes Smithers the only character who was aware Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum volu
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Smithers Character Timeline in The Emperor Jones
The timeline below shows where the character Smithers appears in The Emperor Jones. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Scene 1
...of being discovered. Assured she's alone, she tiptoes through the room—only to be intercepted by Smithers, a cruel white sailor. He grabs her by the shoulders and she frantically begs Smithers...
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Smithers asks scornfully if the woman has been stealing, and she insists she hasn't. Smithers doesn't...
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Smithers suddenly asks if the emperor is still asleep, and the woman assures him that he...
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...servants are around, he shouts in irritation and threatens to beat whoever woke him up. Smithers, seeming half afraid, reveals himself to Jones and admits that he whistled, but explains that...
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Smithers asks Jones if he noticed anything funny earlier, and Jones declares that nothing is amiss....
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Jones scoffs at the mention of Smithers’ job, and Smithers, enraged, reminds Jones that he helped him when Jones first came to...
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Smithers reminds Jones that nobody else would hire him when they found out that Jones had...
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Smithers asks Jones if he has money hidden somewhere safe, and Jones shares that his money...
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Smithers cautiously points out that Jones has been doing the same sort of thing with taxes,...
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Admiringly, Smithers agrees that Jones successfully tricked the natives. He's never seen anyone with such luck. Jones...
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Jones says that he's smart and he thinks quickly, which isn't luck. Smithers points out that the natives will never be able to obtain silver bullets, and it...
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Smithers sniffs, and Jones suggests that "talkin' big" is what makes a man powerful, assuming he...
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Smithers blushes and changes the subject. He asks Jones if the rumors are true that he...
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Astonished, Smithers asks again if Jones actually had a silver bullet made. Jones pulls out his revolver,...
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Smithers venomously makes fun of Jones having a good luck charm, but says that he'll need...
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Smithers expresses disbelief, and Jones sharply asks Smithers if he thinks that Jones is a liar....
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Trying desperately to laugh off this threat, Smithers insists that he was only joking, and reminds Jones that he said himself he's never...
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Terrified, Smithers reminds Jones that he's always been a friend, and Jones relaxes and tells Smithers he...
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Jones is confused, and asks Smithers to elaborate. Smithers asks Jones if he's noticed that none of his guards or servants...
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Enraged, Jones throws the bell and yells obscenities about the natives. He notices Smithers again and composes himself, laughs, and says he probably became overconfident. Jones says it's time...
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Smithers cautions Jones and says that Lem, the native chief, is certainly behind the revolt. He...
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Smithers asks what'll happen if the natives do catch Jones, and Jones insists they won't. When...
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From the hills, Jones and Smithers hear a faint beating of a tom-tom. It beats at the rate of a human...
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Smithers says that the natives are also holding their "heathen" religious service, and are casting charms...
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Jones sniffs and declares that he's not scared of things like Smithers is. He says that the forest is his friend, and the natives are more than...
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Smithers laughs and says that it doesn't seem like Jones has given much thought to the...
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Smithers wishes Jones luck, and Jones insists he'll have such a head start that the natives...
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Jones walks to the main entryway and looks around, and Smithers asks if Jones is really going to go out the front. Jones insists he's not...
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Scene 2
Jones looks at the forest, and with awe he admits that Smithers was right: the forest is extremely dark. He turns away; to avoid looking at the...
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Scene 8
...native chief, approaches the trees from the clearing, accompanied by several of his soldiers and Smithers. Lem and his soldiers wear loincloths and carry guns. One of the soldiers points to...
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...they'll catch Jones. He motions to his soldiers and they crouch down in a semicircle. Smithers asks if they're going to go into the forest after Jones, and Lem repeats that...
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...soldiers to enter the forest. The forest swallows them, and the clearing is silent again. Smithers allows the silence to stand for a moment before whispering in a derisive tone that...
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Smithers thinks for a moment and reasons that the sound could very well be Jones, as...
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Snarling, Smithers asks how Lem knows that Jones is dead. Lem explains that his men have silver...
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Lem ignores this and tells Smithers that his soldiers are bringing out Jones's body now. Sure enough, the soldiers emerge from...
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Smithers mocks Jones's dead body, calling him "your majesty" and asking where his "airs" are now....
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