Treatment of them as inferiors was the American way and, in fact, they are proud.
to be soldiers, proud of the Army, (Stine 180). .
A Soldier's Play is the gripping story of the psychotic black Army sergeant Vernon Waters. It is set in Fort Neal, Louisiana during World War II. Here writer Herbert Mitgang of the New York Times explains his theme:.
Mr. Fuller is planting the theme that blacks, or the 1944's Negroes, had a strong.
Agenda of their own-to-prove themselves as equals in combat so they could be .
Treated as equals in civilian life (C 13).
In this play, it is believed that the Ku Klux Klan or white soldiers kill Waters. No one suggests that the murderer could be one of the black soldiers. However, at this point.
A young black lawyer named Davenport is assigned to the case. The white captain, Charles Taylor, is appalled to find that an African-American has been sent to work on the case. The captain doubts Davenport's capabilities because of his race. However, Davenport continues to investigate. He becomes familiar with many characters including Wilkie who is considered to be Waters servant. Waters used him for his dirty work. Also another character is brought into light [ ] C.J. Memphis. He is a young southern boy who is star of the baseball team and plays the guitar. Waters despises Memphis. He considers him a southern ignorant boy who exemplifies the stereotypes of black America. .
James 3.
In contrast, there is solider Peterson, whom he admires. Waters views him as a strong black man who exemplifies the positive image of the black race. On the other hand, Peterson has hatred for Waters. To one's surprise, Peterson is the murderer of Sgt. Waters.
A Soldier's Play an article in the New York Times Lawson states, "much of what is portrayed about the Army in A Soldier's Play undoubtedly comes from Mr. Fuller's own experience in the Army "he served in 1959 in peacetime Japan and South Korea, but he refuses to discuss this aspect of his past- says Lawson (C 11) .