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Part 1, Chapter 26
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in James, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Speech, Performance, and Willful Ignorance
Identity, Narrative, and Agency
Racism, Dehumanization, and Hypocrisy
Innocence vs. Disillusionment
Family, Alliance, and Loyalty
Summary
Analysis
Daniel Decatur Emmett introduces himself and his company to Wiley as musicians. They are performing at the town hall but have lost their tenor, who fell out of a moving train. Emmett heard Jim’s “exquisite voice” and would like to purchase him from Wiley. The white man hesitates, since Jim is not technically his property. But Emmett offers him 200 dollars, and Wiley accepts. Emmett says Jim will perform on stage with the rest of the minstrels in blackface—wearing boot polish on his face, pretending to be Black (though Jim, of course, will not be pretending). Though Emmett does not ask Jim’s opinion during this transaction, he does shake Jim’s hand, which shocks everyone.
Though Emmett’s interest in Jim is based on his “exquisite” singing ability, he ignores Jim completely while purchasing him, communicating that he does not see him as an equal. The minstrels’ brand of entertainment involves two performances: one musical, and one racial. It is worth noting that Jim will be the only man in the company who is actually Black, while the others will pretend. This unusual scenario complicates themes of identity and performance. Despite Emmett’s aloofness, he does shake Jim’s hand, indicating he is a different sort of white man than Wiley.
Themes
