BETWEEN LAW AND CUSTOM: A VIEW OF THE RACIAL RELATIONSHIPS IN CHARLES WADDELL CHESNUTT’S “THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS”
BETWEEN LAW AND CUSTOM: A VIEW OF THE RACIAL RELATIONSHIPS IN CHARLES WADDELL CHESNUTT’S “THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS”
Author(s): Iulia-Andreea MilicăSubject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Foreign languages learning, Theoretical Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Studies of Literature, Philology, Translation Studies, Theory of Literature
Published by: Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai
Keywords: mixed-race; racism; prejudice; tragic mulatto/a; African-American literature; law; passing;
Summary/Abstract: Between Law and Custom: A View of the Racial Relationships in Charles Waddell’s Chesnutt’s “The House behind the Cedars”. The aim of this paper is to investigate the manner in which Charles Waddell Chesnutt skillfully uses the conventions of the sentimental novel and of the tragic mulatto/a character, familiar to his white readers, in order to dismantle racial preconceptions and expose the terrible ramifications of racism. The novel The House behind the Cedars shows that race is artificially constructed out of various external markers such as custom, law, dubious scientific findings, which, however, can have dire consequences for the individuals who need to obey such limitations.
Journal: Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai - Philologia
- Issue Year: 64/2019
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 97-112
- Page Count: 16
- Language: English