A despondent Black slave who is about to commit suicide is transformed by magic into Harlequin and marries the White planter master’s daughter. The slave rejects the option of becoming a Noble Savage, preferring to become the popular outsider figure of Harlequin. As such, the White actor (most likely in blackface) puts on the black mask of Harlequin. The figure possibly refers to the contemporary climate in Britain, towards emancipation and its idealisation.