Structure

“Arrangement in Black and White” by Dorothy Parker is conveyed in the dialogue mode. However, the writer also respects traditional plot elements.

Title

The title of the short story, “Arrangement in Black and White”, is symbolic and reflects both the context of the story and its underlying themes. The events take place at a party arranged by a white host in honor of an African-American singer.

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Beginning

The short story begins with a brief exposition which introduces readers to the main character and the setting of the story, a dinner party: “The woman with the pink velvet poppies twined round the assisted gold of her hair traversed...

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Middle

The rising action is constructed through dialogue and exposes the main character’s attitude towards African-Americans.

The woman goes to great lengths to show her host that she is accepting and tolerant of African-Americans, that unlike her husband or others, she has no issues with African-Americans: “Now, me, I don't feel that way at all. I haven't the slightest feeling about colored people. Why, I'm just crazy about some of them. They're just like children…” (ll. 43-45)

However, her exaggerated efforts to come across as tolerant have the opposite result and reveal her own embedded racism.

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Ending

The falling action shows the main character and the host stepping away from Walter Williams, while the main character still tries to come across as friendly and progressive:

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