Death Before Dishonor

Death Before Dishonor In the work Before Breakfast by author Eugene O'Neill, there is only one character that actual has any sort of monologue. Many would think that this would lead you to believe that Mrs. Rowland, who is speaking, is the main character. There is room for some argument, though. Even if it's just Mrs. Rowland who has the dialogue, the topic of that dialogue is her husband, Alfred. There is much more giving about Alfred than there is about his wife, his family background, occupation, etc. The overall effect of the nagging and nit picking is the death of Alfred by the way if his own hand. Not to mention there is more of a connection with Alfred than to Mrs. Rowland because it is clear that it is Alfred is the victim of the constant down putting of his wife. The true main character of this work is in fact Alfred instead of Mrs. Rowland. From the very beginning of the play, one sees that Mrs. Rowland is not the most pleasant of people by the way she stars in on her husband who is not even awake, going through his stuff, and sneaking cups of gin. One can get the feeling that she is the type to over react and obviously trifle through stuff that does not belong to her. This can put a strain on anyone's relationship. She continues to speak in the troubles that they are going through putting all the blame on Alfred. Everything is his fault, the lack of funds, the fact that no one is buying the poetry that he is writing and she takes no real responsibility of her own. Mrs. Rowland is ruthless with her attacks on her husband, doing everything including resorting to name calling. She attacks his manhood, the idea of him being a father, and letting him know that everyone is tired of helping him, is just a way o putting him down in an attempt to lower his self-esteem at the same time trying to raise her own. This putting the focus of the play on Alfred as the reader continues to read about the loathing and distaste that Mrs. Rowland has for him and one can start to feel bad for the poor guy. As the nagging ensues, you learn more and more about the back ground of Alfred that you do not get of Mrs. Rowland. This allows for a slight more connection with Alfred because there is more to relate to. We as readers learn that Alfred is a "Harvard graduate, the poet, the catch of the town... "(O'Neill). We learn also that Alfred runs around with a group of other "artist" which apparently go out drinking a lot, which is another topic that Mrs. Rowland uses to unleash a verbal hailstorm.. Alfred, we unfortunately learn via the note that is found in his jacket pocket, has not been faithful in his relationship and he impregnates a girl by the name of Helen. One can not help but feel that the reason that Alfred strayed from the relationship is because of the attitude that Mrs. Rowland has toward him and her non stop assault on the way that their life is going at the current time. The culmination of all of the stabs at his lifestyle and the fact that she has not stop parading him with insults from the moment that he awoke results in the suicide committed by Alfred while he is shaving. This is foreshadowed in the play in yet another snide remark made by Mrs. Rowland when she says " What are you doing---still shaving, for heaven's sake? You'd better give it up. one of these mornings you'll give yourself a serious cut"(O'Neill). Rather Alfred had originally planned on doing this or if he took her idea and figured that it would be better to be dead instead of listening to her anymore is not clear but it is clear that he made the decision based on what was going on between the two of them.
This is proof that the play is more about him than it really is about Mrs. Rowland. The reader does only hear one side of the story so one might not know exactly what is going through Alfred's head, you have an emotional attachment to him, so when you find out that he has done himself in there is a sense of remorse that is doubtful one would have for the nagging, rude, insensitive other character in the play. It is plan to see that the main character is in fact Alfred instead of Mrs. Rowland for a list of reason. Though there is not shared dialogue the focus of the play is the Alfred and the effect that he has had on the quality of life that he and his wife now share. Through the continuous nagging, you receive much more background about Alfred; who his friends are, where he went to college, etc., which you do not get about the supporting character of Mrs. Rowland. This allows for more connection as a reader because the reader can some what identify with him as he becomes more like a person instead of just a character. The climax of the play is even centered around Alfred as he takes his own life by a cut to the throat. Had this happen to a supporting character there would be no sense of feeling one way or another about the event like there is when it actually happens to Alfred. The barrage of attacks that he endures just this one morning is apparently what sent him over the edge. One has to ask themselves is if they would feel the same way about the play had Mrs. Rowland died instead of Alfred and within that answer one could find out who the real main character is.