Act 1, Scene 1 Summary

The play opens on an interior of a palace in a high-ceiling room with a view from the portico looking out onto a vista of distant hills and palm trees. It takes place on and island in the West Indies. In the center of the room is a huge chair made of uncut wood, which is obviously a throne. It is bright red with an orange cushion. The late afternoon light warms the scene as an old native Negro woman sneaks into the scene. She carries a bundle at the end of a stick and warily makes her way to the door leading outside.

Suddenly Smithers appears and begins to interrogate her about where she is going. He has no authority at the palace other than the fact that he is a white man. He knows that something is going on...