Jealous Love (from Color Struck)

Allison S Curseen374 Comments

The play ‘Color Struck,’ by Zora Neale Hurston, is about a black woman, Emmaline, in the Jim Crow south and relationship with John, a light brown-skinned man. This play was published in the Magazine “FIRE!” in 1926. The first 3 scenes show a youthful Emmaline and John. Their relationship is a little rocky already because Emmaline is jealous when John starts looking at and talking to other girls, especially those with lighter skin. As they are about to go on stage for the “Cake Walk,” Emmaline freaks out about John going on stage with all the other fair skinned girls and she decides that they should separate when John says he still wants to go on. He goes on stage and dances with Effie, a mulatto girl. Twenty years later, John meets up with Emma after his wife dies. They make small conversation and John finds out that Emma has a daughter named Lou, who is very sick. John is worried about Lou, and says that Emma should call a doctor. Emma thinks that John only cares about Lou because she has lighter skin, but while she is worrying about this, her daughter dies. 

This text is written to be performed as a play. So as a reader you feel like you are backstage as the play is being performed. Emma’s perspective is almost always at the forefront of the text. She is always thinking about how John is acting, or how other girls are acting towards him. This allows the reader to take a look into the mind of a person of darker color. 

One part of the text that stands out to me is when Emma talks about her “jealous love” on the top of page 9. This stands out to me because it shows what Emma truly thinks about her view on other lighter girls and how John interacts with them. She thinks that she is being jealous, but loving, when it seems clear to the audience that she is overthinking.

374 Comments

  1. Great analysis! You captured Emma’s struggles and the themes of jealousy and colorism in “Color Struck” beautifully. The mention of her “jealous love” really highlights her internal conflict. Well done!

  2. I enjoyed your take on “Color Struck.” You effectively highlighted Emma’s jealousy and how it shapes her actions. The focus on her internal struggle offers valuable insight into her character. Nicely done!

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