Language

The language of the short story “Arrangement in Black and White” by Dorothy Parker mimics the oral speech of Sothern Americans and uses simple words that are easy to understand. The text is very similar to a dramatic monologue as it mostly conveys what the main character is saying. The choice of words is connected to music, to African-Americans, and racism.

Dialogue is the main way of conveying the story, and imagery can only be identified in brief narrative passages in which the narrator describes the characters:

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Similes

A few similes help readers understand the true nature of the main character. The woman claims she likes African-Americans but compares them to children: “They're just like children” (l. 45). This suggests that she actually views African-Americans as inferior and treats them like a form of entertainment.

To convey the character’s falseness, the narrator describes her “moving her lips meticulously, as if in parlance with the deaf” (ll. 87-88) when she talks to Walter Williams.

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Repetition

Repetition is constantly used throughout the text and helps mimic the Southern American way of talking as well as the character’s anxiousness. Often, the main character repeats the same words in the same phrases, something which suggests a snobbish attitude and an affected way of speaking, suggesting her falseness: “ ‘Oh, I'm finely,’ she said. ‘Just simply finely. Listen. I want you to do me the most terrible favor. Will you? Will you please? Pretty please?’ ” (ll. 6-7)

The word “colored” is used twelve times by the main character in her speech and further conveys her underlying racism, despite claiming otherwise.

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Symbols

The most important symbolical element in the story is the reference to the contrast between black and white, also mentioned in the title. This contrast is symbolic of racial prejudice and of white people being unable to move past the skin differences between them and African-Americans.

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