Emma

Emma

Emma is Jack’s mistress. Emma is first introduced in the Chthonian Hotel. She is very intelligent and sophisticated that is sexually attracted to the narrator. She realizes that although she is sexually attracted to the narrator, if she gets involved with him she could lose her position as an important person. Emma then has a side conversation with Jack to discuss whether he is black enough to represent their community.  Emma asks the narrator to dance with her. The narrator accepts and he contemplates whether he is doing the right thing and they dance for five minutes. Although the narrator was uncomfortable, Emma didn’t seem to care about what other people thought since it was wrong to see a black man dance with a white man.  Emma represents the women in society that have gotten into their positions or the place where she is by any means necessary. She’s gotten into her position by sleeping her way through power with Brother Jack. Emma also represents a minority. Since she is a female, she represents a minority whether she is black or white. Emma is scared to lose her power and so then, she obeys whatever Brother Jack says to her. Because it was difficult for women to have a say or have any type of power then, it was hard to obtain an important position she has to obey to what things he say and whatever he wants her to do. Since Emma is a very attractive women, it shows that beauty was very important back then and was key to obtaining power.