Maryse Conde’s ‘The Tropical Breeze Hotel’ is a pre-colonial play that focuses on the issue of the black body and struggle for power and identity. The Black Body is an issue that has a long history from the pre-colonial period and some authors have addressed the issue using dramatic writing. In the play, Conde unleashes a power struggle between the two characters, Emma, and Ishmael, which reveals a gender-based struggle or grasp for an identity. The author uses the two characters who constantly appear to switch roles as a way of balancing each other’s character. The play has scenes that help in analyzing the structure and thematic composition of the writing.
The structure of the entire play is based on the two characters attempting to address the theme of the power and identity. In the memories sparked from the nightmare, various aspects of the personal identities and struggles in a power hungry society are revealed. In the second scene, Emma’s personality seems to change when Ishmael walks into the room. Her paranoid character is awakened when she asks “Say what’s on your mind. You think I’m a whore?” (Conde, 124). Emma’s paranoia is as a result of the judgment that she had previously experienced in the past while living in Guadeloupe. The evidence of the transitioned character of Emma to her paranoia proves the position of women in the presence of men who seem to have power of the women. The personalities of both characters appears to be conflicting in the second scene so that the author can introduce the struggle as intended in the structure of the play. The struggle for power is evident when Emma threatens to kick Ishmael out of his house, depicting that she has the power over his stay in her house. Later, Ishmael attempts to take over the power by talking his way out and even kissing Emma as a way of making her think otherwise. The kiss acts as an excuse to overcome Emma’s power to make Ishmael leave her house the next day. Therefore, the aspect of power struggle is clearly depicted in the final part of the second scene when Ishmael takes over Emma’s power and authority to kick him out.
The scene also reveals the grasp for an identity of the two characters as depicted in their conversation. Ishmael initially identifies himself as Max’s friend when Emma asks for more information he does not tell her. Instead he lies to her about her identity and background, but later reveals the truth about his family. In accordance to the theme, Emma disliked her hometown, but she still had a link to the town through her surname ‘Boisgris’ which she refused to change despite the fame. The name belonged to one of her ancestors who has escaped from slavery. Ironically, the name was from French nationality and had been handed down to her ancestors by the slave master’s family. Emma appears to constantly mention her mother who passed away in her absence making her consider her mother as her homeland. On the other hand, Ishmael denies and tends to disassociate from his family claiming that his parents were the reason he was in trouble and running from his country. The scene is used to show how the two characters use past association with their homeland and families to find new identities. The grasp for an identity results from their past life experiences that make them want to seek new identities.
The two character attempt to escape their realities and identities in varying ways; Emma considers death as her only homeland where she can reunite with her mother. On the other hand, Ishmael fleas from his homeland in Haiti and moves to Paris in an attempt to escape from his identity which appears to attract trouble. Therefore, the second scene effectively portrays the theme and structure of the entire play. The role of Emma appears independent and individualistic as the scene happens in her home. It is evident from her threats to kick Ishmael out of her house the next day because of his doubtful past. However, upon meeting Ishmael her role shifts to an unstable and no longer manageable. Ishmael also transitions in the second scene, where he uses his situation to familiarize with the host. He even pretends not to know the meaning of the word ‘whore’ and ironically uses it to refer to her mother. (Conde, 149). The pretentious character portrayed is intended to conceal Ishmael’s identity from Emma. It leads to the tidal wave of shifting roles between the two characters as they struggle for control and power.
The theme of the Conde’s plot in the play is well portrayed in the second scene where he characters play their roles in shifting ways. Emma’s character shows how the female power is affected the men who make women lose their identity. Therefore, from the scene, it would be possible to consider the issue of gender as a major theme in the play. It is because of how Ishmael speaks to Emma by objectifying her as a sexual object. When he claims that most women just want to sexually engage with him. The gender issue of women is mostly emphasized by the author’s use of a black character, Emma. Emma also expresses the perception of women of colour and how they are treated by men. She thinks that all men would treat her like a whore claiming that when a man spend time with a woman and have no sexual interests he is impotent. Apart from the gender issue, the struggle for identity is predicted in the way she reacts upon thinking that Ishmael thought she was a whore. However, the transition that takes place in the second scene by both characters depicts the struggle for power and identity which is the general theme used by the author. The two characters transition from who they appear as in the beginning and in the second scene they begin sharing and familiarizing with the concept of personal identity. However, they both want to show power over various issues affecting their lives. Ishmael at first claims that he belonged to a humble family, but eventually admits to having parents who supported the revolutionary movement in Haiti. The conflicting identities and opinions are as a result of the shifting roles of the Emma and Ishmael. The author makes use of the different backgrounds and experiences of the characters so that they controversy and conflict can arise as the struggle to acquire power and identities.
The Tropical Breeze Hotel is a Caribbean play, which uses multiple role-playing which brings controversy and conflict within the story. The characters, Emma and Ishmael seem to be searching for their personal identities in their opposite characters. Conde effectively addresses the power and identity struggle for the Black Body, which is an issue that many people can relate to all over the world. Within the shifting characters, Emma and Ishmael eventually find and individual identities as they battle over gender war of control.
Work Cited
Conde, Maryse. The Tropical Breeze Hotel. UBU Repertory Theatre Publications; New York,
1994. Print.
