NEGRO WOMAN [to EUNICE]: .... she says St Barnabas would set out his dog to lick her and when he did she'd feel an icy cold wave all up an' down her.
This is the first speaking line in the play. The first effect of this line is that it adds nothing plot-wise. It's simply us as the audience overhearing a conversation between two minor characters. This was done so it would feel more as if we were just looking into everyday life in an average area. This creates an intimate and personal feel - as if were are just overhearing this accidentally. It's also worth noting that St Barnabas was a saint who spent his entire life defending his way of life against Judaizers and died as a martyr. This is how Stanley sees himself and how Stanley would describe his actions so it is an interesting choice and a way of subtle foreshadowing. The negro woman is also never named - showing that even though races intermingle, there is still some racism as the negro woman is not seen as anything OTHER than her race and gender.
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