Lily

Question 1

Confidence

Answer 1

dramatic entrance to play
- theatrically takes off her gloves and ‘tosses them on the table’ - confidence, raises questions on her characters impact
- girls are drawn to Lily’s charisma as they ‘giggle’ as she ‘winks at the girls’ —> shows future influence
Importance of appearance
- challenging societal beliefs by it being ‘her own little submersive mission to outdress’ white people —> unconventional, appearance is a weapon

Question 2

Independence

Answer 2

• critical of Godfrey’s alliance to FD —> ‘if I go to hell, I go of my own volition, not cause some preacherman’s words sent me there’ - responsible for herself, no controlled
• Gerte + Godfrey ‘basked in heavenly glow’ —> juxtaposed with Lily as she ‘wears a rain slicker and carries a bucket’ back at home = back to reality, Lily taking parental role
• Lily in high heels - too proud to ask neighbours for help —> self-sufficiency + refusal to engage with ‘white folk’

Question 3

Elliptical

Answer 3

• moment of grief for her sister - ‘wimpers then recovers her posture’ - quick shift of emotion, genuine?
• peripatetic life style - Godfrey questions her about her life in Harlem - she responds ‘was. Changed my plans’ —> vague, sense of instability, possible vulnerability
• her character is elliptical as it is a memory play and Ernestine doesn’t have the answers

Question 3

Deterioration

Answer 3

• neglected pride in appearance —> ‘doesn’t matter’ what she wears as all people see is ‘the brown of my skin’ - underlying truth to racial discrimination in the 1950s/ negative tone shows shift in personality/ no longer challenging societal beliefs - defeated - vulnerability through drinking
• derogative attitude towards Ernestine in drunken state - criticises her pride in her graduation with your ‘expecting too much from that blanched mess of fabric’ - contradicts her previous encouragement/ becoming disillusioned
• criticise Ernestine’s love for the cinema by calling them ‘stupid picture shows’ - Ernestine fights back with ‘they ain’t stupid’ - changed r/ship/ increasing cruelty due to bad drinking habits revealing vulnerability

Question 4

R/ship with Godfrey

Answer 4

• after scene of conflict Lily ‘plants a kiss’ on Godfrey - sudden action juxtaposes previous hostility —> Lily regaining power/ shows her desire to win?/ exposes attraction - highlights vulnerability as she gives in to desires
• Godfrey ‘momentarily’ gives into the kiss - temptation, catalyses him dramatically leaving to then come back married —> shows fear of his desires towards lily —> Lily’s impact on Godfrey