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Rogers And Hammerstein's South Pacific

Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific


In Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific, the main theme is racial
prejudices. The two main characters, Emile de Becque and Nellie Forbush are
faced with these problems as they attempt a relationship. Two other minor
characters, Lt. Joe Cable and Liat, are faced with the same dilemma. Both
Nellie and Joe Cable have a hard time copping with their own racial prejudices;
Joe loves Liat, yet cannot marry her because she is Tonkinese ; Nellie loves
Emile, but cannot marry him because of his former Polynesian wife. It is these
prejudices that set the state for what might be the most significannot
scene in
the production. In act 2, scene 3, Nellie reveals her prejudices to Emile.

I can't help it. It isn't as if I could give
you a good reason. There is no reason. This
is emotional. It's something that is born in me.

She looks to Cable for help in describing what she feels, but he offers no help.
Emile tells her that it is not born in her, that it cannot be born in her.
Nellie, who is crying, runs off. Emile is left with Joe, who is thinking over
his own relationship with Liat. Emile asks him why he and Nellie think that
these prejudices are born in them. Joe, giving him the product of his thoughts,
tell him "It's not born in you."
It is at this point that Joe Cable begins singing "Carefully Taught," a
character song in which Joe is able to vent his frustrations and anger about his
own prejudices. The music is slightly upbeat, which helps to illustrate that by
singing this song, he is beginning to feel better. The words that Joe sing tell
the audience that he realizes that prejudices aren't born within someone, but
taught to them.

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people who's eyes are oddly made,
And people who's skin is a different shade –
You've got to be carefully taught!
…To HATE all the people your relatives hate –...