Dutchman

Lula is seen eating an apple throughout the play and offers one to Clay, which he accepts. She refers to the apples throughout their conversation; “Eating apples is always the first step” (11), Lula tells Clay, and later describes leading him into her apartment “with my apple-eating hand” (24). The apple alludes to the story of Adam and Eve, as Lula is an Eve-like “seductress” who brings about Clay’s demise. Much like in the original myth, Clay’s acceptance of the apple—representing how he involves himself with Lula and accepts her advances—is ultimately what brings about his downfall.

Clay appears in the play wearing a suit and tie, which come to represent his so-called “whiteness,” or persona that breaks free of the black male stereotypes Lula insists he should represent. Lula specifically attacks him for wearing such an outfit. Clay then refers to his outfit—and, by extension, his “intelligent,” stereotype-breaking persona and attempt at assimilating into white society—in his speech, saying, “I sit here, in this buttoned-up suit, to keep myself from cutting all your throats” (34).