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Against Catfish Row's vibrant yet harsh backdrop, Porgy and Bess is a captivating opera that explores themes of resilience, love, and loss. This summary delves into the opera's heart, examining its origins in the novel, its music's magic, and its characters' enduring impact.

From the soulful melodies to the poignant themes of racism, love, and addiction, this summary offers a comprehensive journey through one of opera's most iconic works.

Porgy and Bess Overview

Porgy and Bess is an American folk opera (English-based) written by George Gershwin, an American opera composer. The opera-based play originated from Porgy, a novel by DuBose Heyward in 1925. Later, Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward worked on a play called Porgy, the book's first adaptation.

After George Gershwin read Porgy in 1926, he wrote about collaborating on an opera with DuBose. He then used the libretto by DuBose Heyward and some of the lyrics written by his brother, Ira Gershwin, to compose the first opera.

Before its Broadway premiere at the Alvin Theatre in New York, Porgy and Bess was first played in Boston on September 30th, 1935. The singing cast involved professional African Americans, a choice that caused much agitation and criticism at the time.

After numerous performances, adaptations, and new revolving around the play happened, the Houston Grand Opera in 1976 revived the play's glory. Today, it ranks as one of the operas that have been frequently performed.

Now, what is Porgy and Bess about? Porgy and Bess is a play whose libretto tells Porgy’s story, a disabled beggar living in Catfish Row, a fictional area based on Cabbage Row in Charleston, South Carolina. He tries to rescue Bess from the wrath of his violent lover, Crown, and the drug dealer Sportin' Life. The opera is based on a stage play.

Years after George Gershwin died during a brain tumor removal surgery, the Porgy and Bess play found its way into small-scale performances. It was then adapted in 1959 as a film, and some of the songs in the opera, such as Summertime, became a popular recording.

The play's productions continued as the world approached the late 20th century and early 21st century, and most tried to follow the Gershwins’ original script. Smaller productions also happened. A complete score of the play was recorded in 1976.

How the Play’s Origin Happened

After Gershwin read the novel Porgy and proposed a collaboration with DuBose Heyward, the work began in 1934. His visit to Charleston, South Carolina, inspired the songs in the play. In the fall of 1933, Heyward and Gershwin signed a contract with the Theater Guild to write the play's opera.

In the summer of 1934, the composer and pianist visited Folly Beach in South Carolina, a small island near Charleston. After feeling the locale, George Gershwin worked on the songs there and in New York, where he continued to work on the libretto. Ira Gershwin helped by working on some of the lyrics, notably the song 'It Ain't Necessarily So.'

In 1935, George explained to the New York Times why Porgy and Bess is a folk opera. He said the play was originally a folk tale since people naturally sing folk music. He wrote most of the songs, and since each is an operatic version, Porgy and Bess is a folk opera.

Porgy and Bess Synopsis

The Porgy and Bess synopsis below is based on the notes we have collected from the libretto's performance and the 1959 film adaptation. The play's timeline is based in the early 1920s. As you read it, you will note the italicized words in brackets. They represent the songs sung in each act and scene.

If you would like a summary based on a specific source of the play or a custom summary based on particular requirements, just let our HomeworkMarket experts know.

Act I

Scene 1: In the Evening During Summer in Catfish Row

The folk opera begins with an introduction that transitions Catfish Row into the evening. Jasbo Brown plays the piano to entertain the African Americans in the area. Clara sings a lullaby to her toddler (Summertime) as her husband, Jake, joins the other men who are preparing to play the game of craps. The street name for the game is 'Roll Them Bones'.

Robbins, Serena's husband, scorns his wife, who demands that he should not be playing craps. He tells her it's a Saturday night, and he has the right to play. Clara's husband Jake joins her in singing a lullaby for the crying baby (A Woman is a Sometimes Thing), which continues until the baby calms down.

As they proceed, the other characters enter Catfish Row. One is Mingo, another fisherman, and Jim, a cotton-hauling stevedore. Jim is tired of his job and decides to quit it and join the fishermen. The disabled beggar Porgy enters on his goat cart to join and organize the game.

Peter, a honey vendor, returns and sings his vendor's calling song. Crown, a roughshod character, enters the scene with Bess, his woman. Bess purchases cheap liquor and some 'happy dust' (cocaine) from drug dealer Sportin' Life, a local dope peddler. The other women shun Bess for her behavior, especially the devotional Serena and Maria, a matriarch who owns a cookshop. Porgy defends her softly, though.

The game of craps begins. Each of the players is crapped out, leaving Crown and Robbins. The extremely drunk Crown later prevents Robbins from taking his winnings, which results in a battle. Crown uses Jim's cotton hook to stab Robbins, killing him.

Everyone leaves, and Crown runs, leaving Bess alone to fend for herself. He tells Bess to look after herself, but he will come for her when things cool off. Left with Sportin' Life, Bess gets some happy dust from the peddler, who offers to take her to New York. Bess rejects him, forcing him to flee before the police arrive.

Bess starts knocking on doors, looking for a place to stay, but no one accepts her. Finally, Porgy welcomes her and offers her a place to stay.

Scene 2: In Serena’s Room

The following night, mourners gather at Serena's place to mourn Robbins (Gone, Gone, Gone). There is a saucer on the body's chest where people place their donations (Overflow). Porgy and Bess enter the room, and Bess tries to donate to the burial. Serena rejects her money, prompting her to explain that she is with Porgy now.

A white detective arrives and tells Serena that she should bury her husband by the next day, or his body will be offered to medical students. He then abruptly calls Peter and accuses him of Robbins's murder. Peter denies and mentions Crown as the murderer. The detectives order for Peter's arrest so that he can be a material witness to Crown's crime.

Serena laments her husband's death (My Man's Gone Now). The undertaker joins the gathering. The contribution on the saucer is only $15, against the needed $25 for the burial. The undertaker agrees to bury Robbins as long as Serena pays the remaining debt.

Suddenly, Bess leads the folks with a gospel song (Oh, the Train is at de Station), and the rest join in with a chorus, welcoming her as one of the community members.

Act II

Scene 1: Morning Time, Catfish Row A Month after Robbins's Murder

Clara's husband, Jake, and other fishermen prepare to go fishing (It take a long pull to get there). Clara tells Jake not to go because the annual storms are approaching. He tells Clara he must go since they desperately need the money.

That suddenly causes Porgy to start singing from his window about his new, cheerful, optimistic, and carefree life (I got plenty o' nuttin'). Sportin' Life is waltzing around selling the 'happy dust'. He encounters Maria, who threatens him (I hates yo' struttin' style).

Frazier, a fallacious lawyer, arrives and ludicrously divorces Crown and Bess. When he later discovers that Bess and Crown are no longer together, he raises his fee from a dollar to one dollar and fifty cents. Archdale, a white lawyer, arrives and tells Porgy that Peter will be released soon. Soon, a buzzard flies over, making Porgy demand its immediate departure since he is now a happy man (Buzzard keep on flyin' over).

While the Catfish Row community prepares for a church picnic at Kittiwah Island, Sportin' Life approaches Bess and offers to take her to New York. When she refuses the offer, he tempts Bess with some 'happy dust' regardless of her claim that she quit drugs. Porgy enters and grabs his hand, scaring him off.

Sportin' Life leaves, telling Bess that her other men come and go, but he will always be there for her. He leaves Bess and Porgy alone, and they later reveal how much they love each other (Bess, You Is My Woman Now). The chorus hits a high note as they prepare for the church picnic on Kittiwah Island (Oh, I can't sit down).

Maria invites Bess to the picnic, but she objects since Porgy cannot join them (his disability deters him from boarding the boat). Maria, however, insists, prompting Bess to leave Porgy behind. As the boat leaves, Porgy watches (A repeat: I got plenty o' nuttin').

Scene 2: In the Evening, Kittiwah Island

The congregation at the church picnic is enjoying the moment (I ain't got no shame). Sportin' Life joins the chorus, presenting his cynical views about the Bible (It Ain't Necessarily So). That pushes Serena to admonish them ('Shame on all you sinners!') before everyone prepares to leave.

Bess is left behind and hurries to catch up with the rest. Crown, who is hiding in the bushes, emerges. Bess explains that she is now Porgy's woman living a decent life. Crown laughs off the idea of Bess being decent and living with Porgy.

Bess is determined to leave Crown forever, and she tries to make him forget about their relationship (Oh, what you want wid Bess). He, however, refuses to let her go. Instead, Crown forces her to stay with him by grabbing and preventing her from going to the boat.

The boat leaves Kittiwah Island without her. Crown kisses Bess forcefully before he laughs at her failing resistance and his winning conquest. He then takes her to the bushes to fulfill his clear intentions.

Scene 3: Before Dawn at Catfish Row, A Week After the Church Picnic

A week after the church picnic at Kittiwah Island, Jake and his crew leave for fishing. One of the men says that it looks like a storm is coming. Peter, who was arrested after Robbins's murder, returns, still unsure of his charges.

In the meantime, Bess is hallucinating with fever, lying in Porgy's room. She has been in that condition since she came back from Kittiwah Island. Serena prays for her healing (Oh, Doctor Jesus) and then tells Porgy that Bess will feel better by five o'clock. As the day progresses, the strawberry woman passes by before Peter, the Honey Man, does the same with the crab man. They are all advertising their wares (Vendors' Trio).

As it reaches five o'clock, Bess recovers from her heavy fever. Porgy tells Bess that he knows she was with Crown. She admits it's true and adds that Crown promised to come and get her. Porgy tells her he cannot keep a woman who doesn't want to stay, meaning she is free to go. Bess tells Porgy she intends to stay (I Wants to Stay Here) but fears Crown seizing her.

Porgy asks Bess what would happen if Crown was no longer there. Bess declares her love for Porgy and begs for his protection. In return, Porgy promises she doesn't have to fear again (I Loves You, Porgy).

Meanwhile, Clara is fearfully watching the waters because of Jake. Maria tries to ease her worries, but the hurricane bell interrupts them.

Scene 4: The Next Day at Dawn, Serena's Room

The Catfish Row residents gather in Serena's room to shelter from the hurricane. They try to counter the storm sounds with hymns (Oh, Doctor Jesus) and prayers. Drug dealer Sportin' Life, on the other hand, mocks their assumption that the storm signifies Judgement Day. Clara, in desperation, sings her lullaby (Repetition of Summertime), but a heavy knock on the door disrupts her.

The gathering thinks it's death (Oh, there's somebody knocking at the door). Crown storms in, scaring everyone after swimming from Kittiwah Island, searching for Bess. He has no fear of God since he claims he and God are friends after struggling to swim from Kittiwah Island. The folks try to counter his blasphemy with more prayers. He, however, teases them with a vulgar song (A red-headed woman).

Suddenly, Clara sees her husband's boat floating upside down, and she rushes out to save him. Before going out, she leaves her baby with Bess. Bess asks if one of the men could accompany Clara. Crown offers to accompany her, taunting Porgy, who cannot go due to his disability.

As Crown goes out, he yells, "Alright, Big Friend! We're on for another Bout!" The folks continue praying as the storm surges.

Act III

Scene 1: The Following Night After the Hurricane in Catfish Row

Several women gather to mourn Jake, Clara, and the others who have perished in the storm (Clara, Clara, don't you be downhearted). They also start mourning Crown, making Sportin' Life laugh at them before Maria dismisses him. The peddler continues to mention that Crown may still be alive.

He also observes that when a woman has one man, she may have gotten him for keeps. If she, however, has two men, then it's likely that she will lose them both. Bess is overheard singing to Clara's baby (a repeat of Summertime) and is now taking care of it.

When night arrives in Catfish Row, Crown quietly comes to claim Bess. However, Porgy confronts him, and a struggle ensues. In the end, Porgy kills Crown and then tells Bess she's got a man now—she's got Porgy!

Scene 2: The Following Afternoon

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The detective visits Catfish Row and talks about Robbins and Crown's murders with Serena and her comrades. They deny knowing about Crown's murder, leaving the detective frustrated. Since he still needs a witness to fulfill a coroner's inquest, he targets Porgy.

A now worried Porgy admits that he knows Crown. The detective decides to take him to identify Crown's body. Sportin' Life tells Porgy that dead bodies bleed when their murderers are near them, which means the detective will use that to convict Porgy. Porgy refuses to go, but the law officers drag him.

Sportin' Life approaches an overwrought Bess, who now takes advantage of Porgy's absence to exercise his plan. He tells her that Porgy will likely get a long-term lockup (suggesting he might never return) and reminds her he is the only one still available.

Sportin' Life gives her some 'happy dust', which she refuses. The drug dealer forces some of it on her, and after taking a whiff, he paints an alluring picture of him and her in New York (There's a boat dat's leavin' soon for New York).

When Bess recovers, she rushes and slams the door on Sportin' Life's face. He, however, leaves some happy dust and settles to wait.

Scene 3: A Week Later After Porgy's Absence

One fine morning, Porgy returns from jail after being arrested for contempt of court. He had refused to look at Crown's body. He is now more affluent, thanks to the games of craps he played with fellow cellmates. He gives some gifts to his fellow residents and then takes a beautiful dress meant for Bess.

Everyone starts to depart from him, and he wonders why people are suddenly uneasy. He then sees Serena carrying Clara's baby and realizes something unusual. Inquiring about Bess's whereabouts, Serena and Maria inform him that she's fled with Sportin' Life to New York (Oh Bess, Oh Where's my Bess?).

Porgy calls for his cart (a goat cart) and decides to look for Bess. Before leaving Catfish Row, he prays for strength (Oh Lawd, I'm on my way).

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Porgy and Bess Setting

The setting of the Porgy and Bess opera is a 1900s view of the fictional area: the Catfish Row section of Charleston, South Carolina. It's based on a real place: the Charleston docks.

Catfish Row is home to an African American community where residents live a meager life as they struggle to make ends meet. Since they lived near the docks, most worked as fishermen or stevedores. The streets are crowded and dirty, and houses are small and rundown. Generally, the setting signals poverty and discrimination that residents encounter.

Fortunately, the community is closely knit, and members readily support each other. They provide each other with strength and comfort, making it survivable in a problematic world.

The play is based on the novel Porgy, inspired by a real-life man who lived a life similar to that of Porgy. DuBose Heyward lived among the blacks in the Southern part of the US, where their family flourished before the Civil War took away the family's fortunes.

He worked in a workshop before becoming a burial insurance seller. Later, his observations became the basis of his writing when interacting with the black community working at the docks.

The story's protagonist is a fictional character who borrows a lot from Samuel Smalls, a resident of South Carolina. He was nicknamed 'Goat Cart Sammy' since he used to travel with a goat cart. He was a lame man who couldn't stand up. His family roots are from the Gullah people.

So, the characters in Porgy and Bess represent the Gullah traditions. They were originally from the West Coast of Africa before being shipped and forced into hard labor by the whites. They were able to carry their tradition to the US. Their way of life stuck with them until the 1900s, when people started experiencing a huge social and cultural change.

The Porgy and Bess Setting Flow

In the Catfish Row environs, where poverty-stricken folks struggle to make ends meet, a disabled beggar, Porgy, falls in love with Bess, a woman suffering from drug addiction. Crown, Bess' current lover and a brutal stevedore, becomes a fugitive after killing a man following a game of craps brawl.

Leaving Bess to fend for herself, Porgy takes her in, where Bess finds consolation. She quits drugs, and the community accepts her as she continues to brighten Porgy's life. Their new life is, however, interrupted when Crown kidnaps Bess while on a church picnic on Kittiwah Island.

She later finds her way back to Catfish Row and has to be bedridden for a week, hallucinating with a fever. Later, Porgy kills Crown when he comes back for Bess after a howling storm takes the lives of some of the community members.

Porgy is later arrested for refusing to identify Crown's body, and that is when the drug dealer Sportin' Life takes his woman away. He tempts Bess with some 'happy dust' and tells her that Porgy’s absence may be longer than anticipated, making her relapse. He then takes her to New York for drugs and prostitution business.

When Porgy returns from jail, he finds Bess is gone. Sorrowfully, he sets off on his goat cart to search for Bess.

Characters in Porgy and Bess Opera

The entire character list in the story of Porgy and Bess differs from one form of adaptation to another. In short, you will find more or less characters in various play adaptations.

The characters below are based on the Boston Premiere cast in September 1935. This was the opera's first try-out performance before its Broadway Premiere at the Alvin Theatre in October 1935 in New York.

NB: We have also included each character's voice type in the character descriptions. It's in brackets just after each character's name.

• Porgy
• Bess
• Crown
• Sportin’ Life
• Serena
• Robbins
• Clara
• Jake
• Maria
• Peter
• Jim
• Mingo
• Frazier
• Strawberry woman
• Crab man
• Undertaker
• Archdale
• White detective (Coroner)
• Jasbo Brown

Main Characters

• Porgy: (Bass Baritone) Porgy is a disabled beggar who lives in Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina. He is strong-willed, compassionate, and kind. To move around, he uses a goat-drawn cart. Porgy falls in love with Bess, helps her cope with her addiction, and eventually kills Crown, Bess' abusive husband.
• Bess: (Soprano) Bess is a beautiful woman who has a substance use disorder. She is into 'happy dust' and alcohol, which helps her deal with Crown's abusive nature. Bess falls in love with Porgy after Crown flees due to murder. She later runs away with Sportin' Life, her drug dealer, after Porgy gets arrested.
• Crown: (Baritone) Crown is a tall, muscular man who works as a stevedore. He is in a cruel relationship with Bess and is a friend to Sportin’ Life. Crown is selfish, abusive, and violent. He stops at nothing to appease his appetites. He drives the opera's plot when he kills Robbins, flees, and later comes back to claim Bess before meeting his death.
• Sportin’ Life: (Tenor) Another exciting character in the Porgy and Bess opera is Sportin’ Life. He is a drug dealer (and a pimp) who is also charming and manipulative. His critical actions in the plot are that he fuels Bess' drug addiction and persuades her to leave Porgy.
• Serena: (Soprano) She is Robbins' wife and a prayerful woman. The community gathers in her room when preparing for Robbins' burial and during the hurricane. Serena also prays for Bess' healing. Before Bess runs away with Sportin' Life, she leaves Clara's baby to her.
• Clara: (Soprano) Clara is also a kind woman who is married to Jake and has a young son. Her most essential action in the plot is reciting the “Summertime” song as a lullaby to her baby. The love for her husband and the community motivates her. She dies while going to rescue her husband in the storm after seeing his boat floating upside-down.
• Jake: (Baritone) He is Clara's husband and a fisherman who works hard for his family. He dies in a raging storm together with his fellow fishermen. Clara dies while rushing to rescue him after sporting their boat.
• Maria: (Contralto) She is a determined and kind cook shop owner. She first appears when, together with other women, she shuns Bess's public drinking behavior. She is also fond of calling out Sportin' Life since she does not like his waltzing walks and the illegal business he conducts.

Minor Characters

• Robbins: (Tenor) He is Serena's husband. Robbins loved to play the dice game with other men in Catfish Row. Crown kills him after a struggle ensues during the dice game.
• Peter: (Tenor) Peter is the honey man in Catfish Row. He is later arrested as a material witness to Robbin's murder after mentioning Crown as the murderer. He is later released from prison while still unsure of his crime.
• Jim: (Baritone) He is a cotton-hauling stevedore who leaves his low-paying job and joins the fishermen's crew. Crown uses his cotton hook to stab Robbins.
• Mingo: (Tenor) He is one of the fishermen in Jake's crew.
• Frazier: (Baritone) He is a corrupt lawyer who goes to Catfish Row to divorce Crown and Bess. He later raises his price when he realizes Bess and Crown are not married.
• Strawberry woman: (Mezzo-soprano) She sells strawberries in Catfish Row.
• Crab man: (Tenor) He is also another vendor selling his wares in Catfish Row.
• Undertaker: (Baritone) He prepares bodies for burial in the community. He appears to help Serena bury Robbins and agrees to do it on debt.
• Archdale: (Speaks) He is a white lawyer who represents Peter. He meets with Porgy in Catfish Row to inform him that Peter will be released soon.
• White detective: (Speaks) He is also the coroner. He first appears when Serena is mourning her husband and threatens her that they will give Robbins' body to medical students if they don't bury the body by the next day. He is also the one responsible for investigating Robbins and Crown's deaths.
• Jasbo Brown: He never speaks or sings in the play. However, at the beginning of the opera, he entertains the community with his piano.

Themes in Porgy and Bess

The Porgy and Bess opera addresses several themes. The setting enhances some, while others emerge as the plot unfolds, revealing what the characters are capable of and how they cope with hardships.

Some of the crucial themes addressed include:

Poverty and Social Struggle

The opera begins in a docked area where the African American community struggles to make ends meet. The harshness of trying to survive couples with marginalization, which means this community enjoys little of the American dream.

The lack of or dealing with minimal supply due to economic hardships shapes how Catfish Row's life flows. Here, you are either a fisherman like Jake or a dock worker like Jim or Crown if you have to hustle decently. Jim's situation is so bad that he forgoes his cotton-hauling job and joins the fishermen.

As if that is the better side, we see Clara warning her husband not to go fishing since the storm season has arrived. However, Clara's husband, Jake, tells her he must go since they desperately need the money. The fishing job is dangerous and less lucrative than expected.

Community fundraising here barely makes ends meet. While people are willing to help whenever they can, their giving efforts do not cover Serena's burial fee, for example. The undertaker has to proceed with the burial, though, since the white detective's threats are something Serena or any other community member cannot cope with.

The poverty and struggle also bring out the worst in some characters. Sportin' Life chooses to sell his 'happy dust' and cheap liquor and conduct a pimping business to make ends meet. People like Crown and Bess decide to indulge in them to try and forget their struggles and the pain they face daily.

Crown is actually on an elevated level of violence since he even wants to take the winnings of another in their dice game. It shows his desperate need to get the money regardless of the cost. That, however, leads him to a fate that makes him lose everything.

Overall, the community's struggles to make ends meet shape the lives and habits of those involved.

Love and Loyalty

Something else that revolves around the play is the love and loyalty in the community. What we are attracted to more in the story is what goes on between Porgy and Bess. Porgy's love for Bess starts revealing in the game of craps.

When other women shun Bess for her drinking behavior, only Porgy defends her softly. After Crown kills Robbins and flees, leaving Bess to take care of herself again, only Porgy accepts and welcomes her.

Their relationship faces some external pressures and internal struggles. Externally, Sportin' Life tempts Bess repeatedly until she finally gives in when Porgy gets arrested. At first, they can both beat it when Porgy dismisses Sportin' Life from his house, leaving the two love birds to reaffirm their love.

Another external pressure that they both barely deal with is Crown. While he is violent and murderous, he still comes to claim Bess. He portrays his love and loyalty cruelly and forcefully, but it still shows us that he still wants Bess by his side.

Crown has to deal with his exile situation since he is wanted for murder. That, however, does not deter him from kidnapping Bess while on a church Picnic at Kittiwah Island. After Bess manages to get away and becomes sick for a week, Crown still comes back for her by swimming from Kittiwah Island to Catfish Row amid a raging storm.

After the storm, he stealthily returns to steal Bess, but Porgy kills him in self-defense.

While the love between Porgy and Bess seems to overcome all those obstacles, it's conquered by internal struggles. Bess copes with her addiction while under Porgy's care. However, in the end, she finally gives in to the continuous temptations that Sportin' Life poses when taking advantage of Porgy's absence.

She not only relapses but also buys the idea that Porgy may never return since he may face murder charges. So, loyalty is broken in the end as Bess slides back into the life she struggles to leave behind. Porgy, on the other hand, remains loyal all through. Returning from prison (richer), he resolves to find Bess after learning the tragic news of her fleeing with Sportin' Life to New York.

Moving away from Porgy and Bess, there's more love and loyalty between Jake and Clara. In the beginning, Clara sings Summertime to her child while waiting for her husband to arrive from the sea. She is also wary when he goes to fish during the storm season.

On the other hand, Jake works hard to provide for the family, so he is away most of the time. He may not show his love and commitment by staying with her, but it's already seen through his actions to take care of his folks.

The firmness of Clara and Jake's bond is evident when Clara rushes to save her husband after seeing his boat floating upside down. Sadly, they are both killed by the adverse effects of the storm, leaving the community to mourn them as Bess takes over taking care of their child.

Addiction and Temptation

In Porgy and Bess, it must be grueling for a lady to deal with a lover's abusive nature and a friend's manipulative behavior. That is the exact situation that Bess is in before finding solace in Porgy.

The kicking and bruising from Crown makes her get into drug abuse to deal with the pain. The only person to supply what she needs is Sportin' Life, Crown's friend. After Crown commits murder and flees, the drug dealer tempts Bess with more 'happy dust' and a 'good life' in New York.

She is, however, able to resist his offerings at first, and Porgy plays a significant role in helping her recover from addiction. Later, we see Crown abducting her during the picnic on Kittiwah Island. When she got back, she was delusional while suffering from a fever for a whole week. Crown must have dragged her after kidnapping and taking her to the bushes.

Bess, however, finally succumbs to Sportin' Life's temptations when Porgy gets arrested. The peddler tells many lies to lure Bess into her former life. First, he tells Porgy that corpses bleed at the presence of their murderers, scaring the wits out of an already vexed disabled beggar.

After the police drag away Porgy, Sportin' Life comes back to finish up his plans. He tempts Bess with more drugs and starts to paint the picture of their life in New York (There's a boat dat's leavin' soon for New York). In the end, she flees to contribute to Sportin' Life's pimping business.

Sportin' Life's manipulation seems to overcome Bess more than the Crown's cruelty. Perhaps it's due to his persistence and the fact that Crown had to be away since he is wanted for murder. Furthermore, Porgy deals with Crown's threats before the last scene in the play.

What we witness here is the destructive nature of drugs as one tries to use them to deal with the impact of their companions' behaviors. When DuBose Heyward wrote the Porgy novel before inspiring Gershwin's opera, he wanted to show that the black community is also made of humans vulnerable to social pressures and settings.

Racism and Segregation

Although a fictional area, Catfish Row gets its setting from Cabbage Row, an actual place in Charleston, South Carolina. If you go back to history, between 1865 and 1957, the state's government passed 22 laws that defined racial segregation.  

The laws were so harsh on the African American community that in addition to getting a low quality of everything, taxes from whites could only be used to develop whites-only institutions. Readers and watchers witness the effects of such laws in Porgy and Bess.

Racism shows its ugly face when the white detective interrupts the meeting in Serena's room. First, he is never concerned about the mourning and fundraising problems. Instead, he tells Serena that if she doesn't bury Robbins' body by the next day, it will be given to medical students (for dissection, of course).

He then proceeds to accuse Peter of killing Robbins without any evidence. When Peter says who killed Robbins, the police nevertheless arrest him to become a material witness. The police have no remorse whatsoever for their actions since they are dealing with a marginalized community that has no power over them due to the effects of the laws that suppress them.

The same cold treatment is what we see when the coroner inquires about Crown's murder. After unsuccessfully interrogating Serena and her friends, their next target is the disabled beggar Porgy. He is forced to identify Crown's body, and when he refuses, they arrest and charge him for contempt of court.

It's clear that there is racism affecting the Catfish Row dwellers, and they cannot fight it yet. They are still powerless, and as a community, they cannot raise enough resources to cope with such challenges.

If we look at what happened later in the US, especially in the 1960s, the black uprisings witnessed then and later are a result of racial remarks and segregation that African Americans faced for centuries.

Community and Resilience

The naming of the area hosting the African American community has meaning. A catfish is known to survive and thrive in muddy waters. So, the phrase 'Catfish Row' shows how the community bounces back and copes with its challenges despite its living conditions.

First, there is the disabled beggar, Porgy, who, despite his condition, still moves around and gets his activities done. He may feel isolated since he is not like the others, but he can find his way through everything.

Some may wonder how this disabled beggar could win the love of a physically fit woman. It's, however, worth noting that Bess is also disabled because her addiction disturbs her. That implies they both have conditions that impair them, although, for Bess, it's solvable.

The community supports them when they start staying together. We witness this when Bess leads a chorus, and the rest join in to welcome her to the community. That also shows how the folks support each other regardless of their lives and impoverished conditions.

Support is also given to Serena when she buries her husband, Robbins. The community also comes together to shelter from the storm at Serena's place. However, a sense of community and resilience here takes an exciting turn. When Clara rushes to save her husband, Bess asks if a man can accompany her, and Crown, in ridicule, accepts to follow her.

Bess resolves to take care of Clara's baby together with Porgy after the child's mother and father perished in the hurricane.

While the community supports each other in times of need, some of the characters seem isolated. We have already discussed Porgy's condition and how it makes him feel isolated from the rest. This isolation is also evident when people quickly judge and ostracize those who don't adhere to cultural norms.

Bess faces the wrath of women when they see her drinking before joining the dice game. They only get quiet after Porgy defends her. Another character who faces shunning is Sportin' Life. Maria protests how she hates his waltzing (I hates yo' struttin' style) and scolds him when the community mourns for Crown after the storm.

His cynical views about the Bible also fuel Sportin' Life's isolation. He presents them to the congregation at the church picnic (It Ain't Necessarily So), making Serena objurgate them (Shame on all you sinners!).

Porgy and Bess Symbols

Gershwin's Porgy and Bess has several symbols that direct, deepen, and help us highlight some of the themes present in the folk opera. Some of the symbols include the following:

• The sea: The opera repeatedly shows the sea since the community lives near it. In this case, it represents both freedom and danger the people experience as they pursue their dreams. It also shows how vast and unpredictable life can be. Lastly, it shows the longing of those involved while in their isolation.
• Catfish Row: We have mentioned what Catfish Row represents under the community and resilience theme. The film's setting is Catfish Row, a poverty-stricken African American community filled with economic and social struggles. Just like the catfish, these people survive and push on despite the challenges.
• Porgy's goat cart: Porgy, a disabled beggar, travels in a goat cart. This shows his physical limitation since he depends on it for locomotion. It also signifies society's marginalization and his resilience and independence despite the challenges he faces.
• The hurricane: In the film's last scenes, a hurricane strikes Catfish Row. It represents the disruptive force of fate and nature. The storm is more of a metaphor for the mayhem the characters experience, both on a societal and personal level.
• Happy dust: This is what Bess consumes (and most probably Sportin' Life and Crown) to escape the harsh reality of life. While it 'relieves' pain and suffering, it's only temporary and leads to more suffering.

Porgy and Bess Genre

Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin is a folk opera based on DuBose Heyward’s Porgy novel. We have already mentioned that in the overview and the discussion in other sessions. Some scholars refer to it as a dramatic folk opera due to the striking events in the story.

Its classification comes from how it involves opera and a touch of popular music, jazz, blues, and spirituals. There are fully sung parts, such as the first singing of Summertime and A Woman Is a Sometime Thing. Traditional opera singing is also coupled with recitatives and spoken dialogue.

Most of what is sung is George Gershwin's music, although Ira Gershwin contributes notable chunks. When interviewed, George called it an 'American folk opera' since it's about the lives of a marginalized African American community in South Carolina.

Porgy and Bess Performance History

After George Gershwin, with the help of Heyward, worked on the opera and Ira Gershwin wrote some of the lyrics, it was time to perform the written work. Porgy and Bess underwent trials, grand performances, shelving (due to racial remarks), revival, and numerous adaptations.

We will highlight the adaptations in the next section. For now, here is a glimpse of the opera tour from one theater to another as its fame diffused in almost all known continental regions.

• 1935: Eva Jessye directed a concert version performed privately at Carnegie Hall. On September 30th, a premiere performance occurred in Boston, Colonial Theater. The Boston try-out was for the Broadway premiere at the Alvin Theater, New York, on October 10th. Later, the Broadway run lasted for 124 performances.
• 1936: Gershwin's Porgy and Bess went on tour, starting on January 27th in Philadelphia and ending on March 21st in Washington, DC. During this time, Todd Duncan (who played Porgy) protested the segregation witnessed at the National Theater.
• 1938: Most of the original cast reunited for the play's revival on the West Coast, going to Los Angeles and San Francisco.
• 1942: Cheryl Crawford refashioned Porgy and Bess to a musical theater style. After making drastic cuts from Gershwin's version, the reduced one opened at the Majestic Theater in January. On May 7th, WOR radio station broadcasted a one-hour version of the play. In June, Etta Moten replaced Anne Brown in the Bess role. Crawford's production was a huge success that lasted for nine months.
• 1943: A European premiere happened on March 27th at the Royal Danish Theater, Copenhagen. The cast had white singers with black-painted faces. It was during the Nazi occupation, which explains why the cast had to be like that. The Nazis closed down the theater after 22 sold-out performances.
• 1945 and 1950: European productions took place in Zurich, Switzerland.
• 1948: European productions happened in Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden.
• 1952: Robert Breen and Blevins Davis worked on a 1952 revival. They restored most of the music and the recitatives that Crawford cut out from Gershwin's version and divided the play into two acts. Only some things were restored, though. Later, Porgy and Bess premiered in London on October 9th, 1952, at the Stoll Theater.
• 1953: The opera continued at the Stoll Theater until February 10th. In the European productions, they restored part of the black cast, and renowned activist Maya Angelou participated. After the European tour, the opera returned to Broadway in March 1953 at Ziegfeld Theater. Later, it went on a tour to North America before embarking on an international showcase that produced performances in major cities in European countries.
• 1955-1956: The crew performed at the Cairo Opera House in Egypt. They later toured Russia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The Russian performance in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) happened during the Cold War, making it a tense occasion since it was an American folk opera.
• 1965: A New Zealand opera produced the play with a cast of Maori people. Gershwin told them to adhere to the requirements of black artists. Later, the Volksoper Vienna production restored the opera to Gershwin's original version in 1935.
• 1961-1964: A few new productions occurred. The opera, however, faced some backlash, especially from African Americans. The play's depiction of racism led to its shelving.
• 1965-mid 1970s: The Volksoper Vienna production's revival went on several times.
• 1976: The Houston Grand Opera revived Porgy and Bess, returning it to the original version. They performed the first Gershwin version before the introduction of the cuts. During this time, the play was recognized as an opera by all the enthusiasts. The Houston Grand Opera went on to win the Tony and Grammy awards. RCA Records did a recording later when the opera returned to Broadway at the Uris Theater on September 25th.
• 1983: The Radio City Music Hall staged another Broadway production based on the version produced at Houston.
• 1985: The Metropolitan Opera in New York presented a Porgy and Bess production on February 6th. The production had 16 performances in one season.
• 1986: The Glyndebourne Festival in England hosted the opera, which Trevor Nunn produced. After being videotaped, this production inspired a television production in 1993.
• 1986, 1989, and 1990: Metropolitan Opera revived the play and oversaw 54 performances.
• 1996-1998: A production of the opera happened during the Gershwin brothers' celebrations.
• 1998: A semi-staged version of Trevor Nunn's production happened at the Proms, BBC.
• 2000 and 2002: The New York City Opera did a revival.
• 2006: On February 24th and 25th, the Nashville Symphony, based in Nashville, Tennessee, did a concert performance of the play at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Trevor Nunn also oversaw the production of the Savoy Theater, London, on November 9th. He used the title 'The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess', similar to the 1993 television adaptation of the videotaped play 1986.
• 2007: The Los Angeles Opera performed a revival conducted by John DeMain, who also conducted the popular Houston opera of the same opera in 1976.
• 2010: Desmond Tutu criticized the Cape Town Opera in South Africa for planning to take the Porgy and Bess play to Israel. The opera had performed abroad before.
• 2011: Diane Paulus directed the Gershwins' version of the play in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the American Repertory Theater. A Broadway production by Buddy Freitag happened on August 31st after previews ran from August 17th. It also featured previews in December for the following years' performances.
• 2012: The previews done in December 2011 for Paulus' production led to the opera production on Broadway, Richard Rodgers Theater, on January 12th. The success of this production saw its nomination in ten Tony Awards, winning awards in the 'Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical' and 'Best Revival of a Musical' categories. The production went on until September 23rd, playing 322 performances.
• 2014: A London production ran at the Regent's Park Open Air Theater between July 17th and August 23rd. It was nominated for a 'Best Musical Revival' category at the Olivier Awards.
• 2019: The Metropolitan Opera revived the play after 30 years of its absence on its stage. In the fall of 2019, they conducted a 2018 London production by David Robertson. The New York Times hailed the production. Later, a live cast album launched on December 17th, winning the Best Opera Recording award in the 63rd annual Grammy Awards.

Porgy and Bess Film and Television Adaptations

Porgy and Bess's version also intrigued film and television producers. Here are some of the known adaptations of the play.

Film Adaptations

• 1945: Gershwins' biography Rhapsody Blue, done by Warner Bros. film, has a musical scene extended to create the original opening of the Broadway production in 1935.
• 1959: This is the first Porgy and Bess film adaptation of the opera, produced by Samuel Goldwyn and directed by Otto Preminger. Since its inception, though, it has faced many problems, from a disagreement between the producer and the first director to criticism because it has many more cuts than the original Gershwins' version.
• 1985: In White Nights, actor Gregory Hines performed Sportin' Life's song "There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York".
• 2019: Bobby Geisler and Mike Medavoy, an American film producer, announced that with Gershwin's estate approval, they are developing an updated film version of the folk opera.

Television Adaptations

• 1993: We have already mentioned this one in the performance history section. Trevor Nunn's production was videotaped in a television studio with no audience. PBS telecasted it in the US and BBC in England. The production had four Emmy Awards nominations and won one for art direction.
• 2002: New York City Opera performed their Houston production version. The live performance recording took place at the Lincoln Center stage.
• 2014: A 2009 recording of the San Francisco Opera was televised on PBS before later being released on Blu-ray and DVD.

Porgy and Bess Songs

There are many songs from this dramatic folk opera. As highlighted in the synopsis section, you may have already noted some of them.

Popular songs from Porgy and Bess include the following:

• Summertime: In Act I, Scene 1 by Jake and Clara. Bess also sings it to Clara's baby in Act III, Scene 1.
• A Woman Is a Sometime Thing: In Act I, Scene I, led by Jake.
• My Man's Gone Now: In Act I, Scene II, led by Serena, she buries her husband, Robbins.
• It Take a Long Pull to Get There: In Act II, Scene 1, led by Jake and the fishermen.
• I Got Plenty o' Nuttin': In Act II, Scene 1 by Porgy.
• Buzzard Keep on Flyin': In Act II, Scene I, by Porgy.
• Bess, You Is My Woman Now: In Act II, Scene 1, Porgy and Bess express their affection for each other.
• Oh, I Can't Sit Down: In Act II, Scene 1, by Bess and Porgy, as Bess prepares for the church picnic.
• It Ain't Necessarily So: In Act II, Scene 2, by Sportin' Life, he presents his derisive views about the Bible.
• What You Want Wid Bess: In Act II, Scene 2, Bess tries to resist Crown.
• Oh, Doctor Jesus: In Act II, Scene 3, Serena prays for Bess. It's also in Act II, Scene 4 when the gathering in Serena's room tries to counter the noisy storm.
• I Wants to Stay Here: In Act II, Scene 2, by Bess to Porgy.
• I Loves You, Porgy: In Act II, Scene 3 by Porgy and Bess.
• A Red-Haired Woman: In Act II, Scene 4 by Crown during the storm.
• There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York: In Act III, Scene 2, by Sportin' Life when he tempts Bess after Porgy's arrest.
• Bess, O Where's My Bess?: In Act III, Scene 3, Porgy demands to know Bess' whereabouts.
• O Lawd, I'm on My Way: In Act III, Scene 3, led by Porgy, he searches for Bess.

Summertime Porgy and Bess Lyrics

The most popular song of them all in the folk opera is Summertime. People have sung the lyrics over and over again. So, don't be surprised if you see little variations in the lyrics or the flow since it depends on the composition when the actors are singing (and the numerous cuts the play has endured).

Here are the lyrics to Summertime Porgy and Bess.

Summertime and the livin' is easy

Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high

Yo' daddy's rich and yo' mama's good lookin'

So hush little baby, don't you cry

One of these mornin's you gonna rise up singin'

You gonna spread your little wings and you'll take to the sky

But 'till that mornin' there ain't nothin' gonna harm you

With yo' mama and daddy standin' by

[Instrumentals]

Summertime and the livin' is easy

Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high

Yo' daddy's rich and yo' mama's good lookin'

So hush little baby, don't you cry x3

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Porgy and Bess about?

Porgy, a disabled beggar, falls in love with Bess, a woman addicted to drugs. They find solace in each other after Crown, Bess' violent lover, abandons her. As they get by in their new life, their love is disrupted by the intrusive return of her ex-lover and the temptations of drug dealer Sportin' Life.

2. What message do we get from Porgy and Bess?

The message of the Porgy and Bess opera is about being resilient and hoping for the better despite your surroundings' cruelty. The opera highlights the inequality suffered by African Americans in the early 1900s.

3. Who wrote Porgy and Bess folk opera?

George Gershwin wrote the Porgy and Bess folk opera after reading DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy, who also wrote its libretto. Ira Gershwin assisted in composing some of the lyrics.

4. What is the difference between the Porgy and Bess film (1959) and the novel Porgy?

• Medium: 1925's Porgy is a novel, while the other is a film based on the Porgy and Bess folk opera George Gershwin worked on between 1926 and 1934.
• Focus: The novel focuses on the characters and the reality of life around them. The film, however, dwells on visual storytelling with opera elements.

5. Who can help me write a comprehensive summary of the Porgy and Bess folk opera?

Our essay writers. They are readily available and have contributed to summarizing other operas and novels. Submit your summary requirements anytime and let them work on your assignment to your tailoring preferences.

Conclusion

Porgy and Bess resonate with audiences worldwide, and its music and story are an enduring testament to the human spirit. Beyond its artistic brilliance, the opera powerfully reflects the African American experience, challenging societal norms and inspiring empathy.

As we conclude this exploration, the significance of Porgy and Bess continues to resonate today. It invites us to delve deeper into its complexities and celebrate its enduring beauty.

If you want to explore the thought-provoking opera further, our experts are ready to help. Tell them what you require, and watch the guidance unfold into a fantastic summary.