IntroductionThe play "Mulatto" by Langston Hughes deals with life in the south in the 1930s. At that time, the system of white domination over the black race was absolute and uncompromisingly hard. The play focuses on the father-son relationship between Colonel Tom Norwood and his mulatto son Robert Lewis, a relationship characterized by hatred and rejection of each other. Throughout the play, the cause of conflict is the color line, a line that one must cross to be accepted and recognized as a human being. The father cannot recognize the mulatto children on the plantation as his legitimate children without renouncing his identity as a white man. This article will analyze Cora's character in depth to examine her life, sacrifices, mindset, and feelings. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Cora's life has been a mixed one. On the one hand, she gets favors because she is Norwood's mistress while on the other, she is seen as just a black woman, a negro. Since moving into the big house, Cora has never had to worry about mistreatment or the harsh life in the plantation fields. From his relationship with Norwood, we understand that he respects and loves her. As a result, she may receive preferential treatment reserved only for whites, including those living in the main house. However, on the other hand, she is trapped in her skin and she doesn't have much say in the things that revolve around her. From the beginning, Norwood simply sees her as a black person who should be submissive to him. Much like the first time he had sex with her when she was only fifteen, Norwood thought of her as a "pretty little piece of flesh, black and soft." It is disappointing that despite caring for Norwood and giving birth to all of his children, she is not given the respect her position deserves. To a large extent, Cora sacrificed her individuality to protect her children. Throughout her life, she had to live in the shadow of Norwood and her children so that they could be protected. For example, while she doesn't hate Norwood, it's unclear if she loves him. She puts her children before her happiness, comfort and fears and she makes every life-changing decision with the sole purpose of ensuring their safety. She says "and I was always ready for you when you came to see me at night". It doesn't say whether she loved him or not, just that she was ready. She has no other identity than that of being a mother of four children. She can't claim to be Norwood's wife when everyone knows she takes care of the man and gave birth to all his children. In her long speeches towards the end of the play, Cora tries to put into words her feelings, her entire life. She's not mad or shocked. While she initially seems to recognize that Norwood is dead, the audience realizes that she is lucid and aware of the fact that he is indeed dead and that all along she was aware of the clear difference between the races. For example, she states "...and you're lying on the ground, dead!" This explains that she knows that Norwood is dead and that everyone has shunned him, including his children and even his white friends. In fact, Cora further points out that Norwood has been dead to her for a long time. It turns out that ever since he beat Robert at a young age, Cora hated him. She observes: “After beating that child, you are dead, Colonel Norwood. You died here, in this house, and you have been undead for a long time.” So it turns out that Cora has been living with hatred in her heart for a long time..