Dark Princess, written by sociologist W. B. Du Bois in 1928, is one of his five historical novels. This work is aimed primarily at exploring the positive aspects of the black race. The author used the rules of fiction to make the lives of each character as vivid and clear as possible. Although the novel was criticized after publication, it thoroughly explores the cultural richness and identity of the black population. Those who were dissatisfied with the novel tried to accuse the author of failing to use social realism in the book and of excessive eroticism.
The book is divided into four large chapters, Exile, Pullman Porter, Chicago Politician, and Maharaja of Bvodfur. Each section of the work aims to explore the life of the main character, which should occur in stages. Thus, for example, the voluntary exile to another country or the first job on the railroad are treated as separate themes in different parts of the novel. It is important to note that the plots are not connected, even though they allow us to trace the personal growth of a character who is increasingly becoming a revolutionary.
Matthew Townes is the main character of the work, and it is he who the reader follows throughout the novel. As an obstetrician student, the protagonist is informed that he has no opportunity to finish university or work in his desired profession (Du Bois, 42). This depicts the disadvantages and injustices of racism, which are at the heart of the prohibitions described above. It is because of his African-American background that the young man will not be allowed to treat or care for white patients.
After his dreams are shattered, he becomes disillusioned with his life and decides to go into exile in Germany. Here the character meets Kautilya, who is an Indian princess who will play a very important role in building Matthew’s revolutionary spirit (Du Bois, 256). The princess adds color and emotion to a young man’s life, changing the gray world and explaining the importance and value of people of color to humanity. The girl sounds objective as she explains to him not only the positive facts of the struggles but also some of the negative consequences of their actions, for example, for black people in the United States (Du Bois, 277), when she introduces him to the history of colored leaders. The love line of the characters develops, after a while a child appears who is the Maharaja of Bvodpur and Matthew is his father (Du Bois, 277). It was very disturbing for the hero that a person of African-American descent could become a member of the royal family.
From the analysis of the piece, it can be concluded that the author is trying to show racial solidarity through internationalism. In addition, Du Bois exposes the corruption and violent radicalism that denigrate the African American culture, which allows us to look at the issue in a more objective way. It is important to emphasize that the subtitle Dark Princess, Romance, suggests that this is not only a love novel, but also an ideological one. In other words, the book challenges the self-confidence of Americans in the belief that America is the land of opportunity, equality, and freedom for all. This is especially evident in the line of the protagonist’s careful attitude toward the United States, which evolves over the course of the work and, in the end, is lost. Du Bois’ last novel, Dark Princess, is no less significant than Silver Fleece. Artistic, realistic pictures of black life are replaced here by a romantic story of the love of an American Negro for a Hindu princess. This turn from realism to romanticism is undoubtedly connected with the strengthening of conservative elements in his ideology and with the displacement of the Negro intellectuals he represents by the more determined, including communist, strata.
Work Cited
Du Bois, W. E. B. (1976). Dark princess. Kraus-Thomson.