Welcome to your study guide for Les Blancs!
Hi there! Welcome to your study notes for Lorraine Hansberry’s powerful play, Les Blancs. This play is part of your Other Drama section for the Pearson Edexcel A Level. It’s a deep, challenging, and incredibly rewarding text that asks big questions about freedom, family, and what happens when two different worlds collide. Don’t worry if it feels a bit heavy at first—we’re going to break it down step-by-step so you can walk into your exam feeling like an expert.
Section 1: What is the Play About? (The Big Picture)
Imagine returning to your childhood home for a funeral, only to find the entire town on the brink of a revolution. That is exactly what happens to our protagonist, Tshembe Matoseh. The play is set in a fictional African country called Zatembe (which represents many African nations during the mid-20th century).
The story follows Tshembe as he tries to stay neutral, but he is forced to choose between his personal life in Europe and the violent struggle for independence in his homeland. It’s a "drama of ideas," meaning the characters often represent different political or moral viewpoints.
Quick Review: The Plot in Three Acts
1. The Return: Tshembe returns to Zatembe for his father’s funeral. He meets Charlie Morris, an American journalist who thinks he is there to "help."
2. The Conflict: We see the tension between the native population (who want their land back) and the white settlers (who have lived there for generations and don't want to leave).
3. The Choice: Tshembe realizes he cannot remain a bystander. The play ends in a tragic explosion of violence that changes everything.
Key Takeaway: The play is about the "clash of civilizations" and the impossible choices individuals must make during a revolution.
Section 2: Meet the Characters
To understand the play, think of the characters as pieces on a chessboard. Each one represents a specific perspective on Colonialism.
1. Tshembe Matoseh (The Protagonist)
Tshembe is highly educated and has been living in England with a white wife and a baby. He is cynical and intellectual. He doesn't want to be a hero; he just wants to go back to his quiet life.
Analogy: He’s like someone who sees a fire starting and tries to walk away, only to realize the door is locked and he has to help put it out.
2. Charlie Morris (The "Liberal" Outsider)
Charlie is an American journalist. He thinks he is a "good guy" because he wants to write a nice story about the mission. However, he is often naive. He represents the "white savior" complex—the idea that outsiders know what’s best for Africa better than Africans do.
3. Major Rice (The Colonial Power)
Major Rice represents the military force of the British Empire. He is convinced that the white settlers "built" the country and that the native people are "children" who need to be controlled. He is the "villain" of the piece, but Hansberry writes him as a man who truly believes he is doing the right thing, which makes him even scarier.
4. Madame Neilsen (The Bridge)
She is the elderly wife of the missionary. She has a deep bond with Tshembe and represents the possibility of cross-cultural friendship. However, even her love isn't enough to stop the looming war.
Memory Aid (The Three Brothers):
Remember the Matoseh brothers to see the different paths people take:
- Tshembe: The intellectual who is forced to fight.
- Abiose: The brother who converts to Christianity and sides with the colonizers (the "traitor").
- Eric: The youngest brother, who is biracial and symbolizes the messy, painful future of the country.
Section 3: Context is Everything (AO3)
In your Edexcel exam, you get big marks for AO3 (context). You must show you understand the world Hansberry was writing about. Les Blancs was written in the 1960s, a time when many African countries were finally gaining independence from European empires.
Key Contextual Points:
- Decolonization: After WWII, empires like Britain and France started losing control of their colonies. This was often violent (like the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya, which heavily influenced this play).
- The Civil Rights Movement: Hansberry was a famous Black American activist. She saw the struggle for rights in the USA as being linked to the struggle for independence in Africa.
- Lorraine Hansberry’s Legacy: She died before finishing this play. Her husband, Robert Nemiroff, completed it using her notes. It was her attempt to write a "final word" on the relationship between Black and White people.
Did you know? The title Les Blancs (The Whites) was a direct response to a play by Jean Genet called The Blacks. Hansberry wanted to flip the perspective and show how "whiteness" as a power structure affected the world.
Section 4: Key Themes and Ideas
When writing your essay, try to group your ideas into these big themes:
The Myth of the "White Savior"
The play critiques people like Charlie Morris who think they can "fix" Africa with a few kind words. Hansberry argues that true freedom must be taken by the oppressed, not given by the oppressor as a gift.
Violence vs. Silence
Tshembe tries to stay silent and neutral. However, the play suggests that neutrality is a myth. If you see an injustice and do nothing, you are helping the person doing the injustice. This is why Tshembe eventually picks up a weapon.
Identity and Heritage
Tshembe feels "homeless." In England, he is an outsider. In Zatembe, he is seen as "too European" by some. This dual identity is a common struggle for people living in the wake of colonialism.
Quick Review Box:
- Colonialism = One country taking over another for profit.
- Paternalism = Treating adults like children (how Major Rice treats the Africans).
- Resistance = Fighting back against power.
Section 5: Dramatic Techniques (AO2)
Since this is a Drama exam, you must talk about how the play would look and feel on a stage. Don't just treat it like a book!
The Symbol of "The Woman Dancer"
Throughout the play, a silent female dancer appears to Tshembe. She isn't "real"—she is a spirit or a symbol of Africa’s soul. She represents the call of his ancestors and his duty to his people.
Exam Tip: Mentioning the Dancer is a great way to show you understand Hansberry’s use of Expressionism (using non-realistic elements to show a character's internal feelings).
The Setting: The Mission
The play takes place at a medical mission. This is symbolic! A mission is supposed to be a place of healing, but here it is a place of tension, secrets, and eventually, fire. It represents the "civilization" that Europe claimed to be bringing to Africa.
Dialogue and Debates
Notice how long some of the speeches are. Tshembe and Charlie often have long arguments. This is Hansberry's way of putting the morality of the world on trial. When quoting, look for words that show power or conflict.
Section 6: Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Don't make it "Good vs. Evil": It's tempting to say the Africans are 100% good and the Europeans are 100% bad. Hansberry makes it more complex. Even the "villains" have reasons for what they do, and the "heroes" are often deeply flawed.
2. Don't forget it's a play: Always use words like "audience," "stage directions," "lighting," and "performance."
3. Don't ignore the ending: The ending is tragic and messy. It doesn't offer a happy solution, which is Hansberry’s point—colonialism leaves a scar that doesn't heal easily.
Summary Takeaway: If you focus on Tshembe’s internal struggle, the flaws of the white characters, and the historical context of the 1960s, you will have a fantastic foundation for any exam question on Les Blancs!
You've got this! Keep re-reading the key scenes where Tshembe and Charlie argue—those are usually the "gold mines" for exam quotes.