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 …showed first 75 words of 903 total…

…showed last 75 words of 903 total…scene puts forth a social message as well as furthering the plot. It is because of Emile's acceptance of the mission that helps Nellie realize that her prejudices are stupid and that she's giving away everything that is important to her because of someone else's preconceived notions of people. By examining some of the social problems of the time (and even now), Act 2, scene 3, proves to be one of the most significant of the production.