Act 2 Scene 3 Summary

The statues and celebrations invoked by the Corporal at the end of the previous scene appear. As the Chorus sings and dances in his praise, Makak is placed upon his throne. The Corporal, richly robed, steps forward. As Makak says quietly that he's only a shadow, the Corporal gives a long poetic speech about how there are prisoners to be tried and how tribal law overrules Roman law. He calls for Basil to list the accused and read the charges against them. Basil reads a list of people from across time and cultures, including Al Jolson, Abraham Lincoln, Mandrake the Magician, Shakespeare and Florence Nightingale, saying their crime was to be white. The Chorus shouts that the accused should be hanged. Basil then moves from the past to the present, listing a series of communications, letters and apologies trying to create...