The tone of The Emperor Jones is serious and somber. The subject matter of the play concerns deeply harrowing themes of racism, slavery, colonialism, imperialism, and intergenerational trauma, and O’Neill’s tone when engaging with these topics is reflective of the gravity they deserve. O’Neill’s critique of the political structures that uphold racism and empire is embedded throughout the play. In particular, his depiction of Jones’s psychological turmoil (which comes as the result of attempting to participate in these systems) is unflinching. Although he does not allow Jones to outrun the consequences of his crimes and deceit, O’Neill uses hallucinatory flashbacks to craft a nuanced picture of the context behind Jones’s actions, allowing the audience to feel sympathy for him.
Furthermore, through Jones’s quick and easy acknowledgement of the natives’ rebellion at the start of the play (as demonstrated by the following remark to Smithers: “When I knows de games up I kisses it good-bye widout no long waits”), O’Neill suggests that revolt against imperial systems may be inevitable. However, the presence of Smithers and his negative commentary regarding both the natives of the island and the Emperor Jones serves as a reminder of how widespread the conflicts in the play truly are.
