The Emperor Jones

by Eugene O’Neill

The Emperor Jones: Genre 1 key example

Genre
Explanation and Analysis:

Eugene O’Neill’s 1920 play The Emperor Jones falls under the genre of Expressionism. The term Expressionism refers to a subgenre within the larger literary movement known as Modernism, which became popular in the early 20th century. Expressionist plays are characterized by protagonists who undergo spiritual awakenings and suffering, as Brutus Jones does throughout the duration of The Emperor Jones.