PLAY READING WORKSHEET: Name: Caragh Tiernan

Title: The Octoroon Author: Dion Boucicault

Year(s) Written: 1859
Genre/Aesthetic: Melodrama

Date: 4/13/15

SUMMARY

George Peyton falls in love with Zoe an octoroon, but McClosky wants her
to be his mistress, and when she rejects him he plots to have her sold.
McClosky kills Paul, who was going to get in the way of his plans with the
plantation. Dora an heiress wants to marry George. McClosky is found guilty
and George gets his plantation. Zoe drinks a vial of poison because she
thinks that she cant be with George and dies with George by her side.
HISTORICAL/SOCIAL/POLICITAL CONTEXT OF THE PLAYWRIGHT

Born in Dublin 1820, his father supported him for the first 20 years of his life
but wasnt his mothers husband. He went to London for University College
School at 13, and studied at University of London. His stage name is Leo
Moreton. England was slowly at this time shifting to a more parliamentary
power. His first play was A Legend of the Devils Dyke, 1838. He toured
America with his actress wife. Ireland was colonized, so Boucicault was able
to sympathize with the slaves. A lot of Irish are moving to the US around
this time.
AUDIENCE

Premiered in New York at the Winter Garden Theater, four days after John
Brown, a famous abolitionist, was executed for his raid on Harpers Ferry,
Virgina. Boucicault acted in the original production.

IMAGES/SYMBOLS: EXAMINE THEM

STRUCTURE/FORM: WHAT & WHY?

THEMES/ Qs THE PLAY IS ASKING

A-HA!- I thought the alternate

Camera- the truth, not able to lie

with visual proof, truth is dangerous
Letters- transfer of news, not by
mouth
Scudders- abolitionist, the north
Plantation- wealth, stability, power

Liberty- McClosky is brought to

justice, George gets the land.
Identity- Even though she is only an
eighth african american she is
considered black, and that is her
identity.
Prejudice- There are many types of
social prejudice, racially and also
regionally.
Violence- the slaves are abused and
tortured,

Five Acts
Alternate Endings- happy ending in
England, tragic in America.
Romanticism
Melodrama
Doesnt have unities

endings were interesting how in the

past with theatre people really had to
cater to their audiences, and be
cautious of the views of where they
are performing.
2 QUESTIONs

1.
2.

v. spring 2015