Desire Under the Elms
Running head: DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS: ARTICLE
Desire Under the Elms: Article
Brittany Merriweather
20th Century American Drama
Daniel Pigg
4/9/12
This article discusses several different elements of the play. It talks about things such as the nature of the play, the setting, and even the concerns that were happen around the time that the play was written. The critic opens up by giving a brief synopsis of what’s happening in the outside world during the time that Eugene O’Neil wrote the play. The article opens up stating how O’Neil takes a difference response with this play as if he was demonstrating Greek theatre. Henry is trying to explain that even though the play does not follow any particular play, that it echoes Hippolytus and Medea which both involve incest and infanticide (Henry, 2006). This type of behavior was highly intolerable during this time; this is what made the Desire Under the Elm stick out to readers and reviewers. In the article, the main point that is brought up is the desire between Eben and Abby. From the moment that Abby is known at the house, there is some form of tension between her and Eben. While Eben tries to remain loyal to the memory of his mother he his overcome by Abby, with her beauty, charm, and grace (Henry, 2006). It is hard for Eben to confess his love or true feelings for Abby because it is hard for him to accept Abby’s place in his home and the fact that she will one day own the farm that was robbed from his mother. Eben truly believes that Abby is an intruder, that is trying to seek his inheritance. All the while Abby is the type of person that had learned to fight for what she wants, and she will get it by any means necessary (Henry, 2006). The article also speaks on Abby as a person. Henry feels that Abby would’ve made a great wife for Ephram for as long as he lived, if Eben had not been around (Henry, 2006). Abby was the type of woman that knew how to get what she wanted. In this case, in this story Abby
Desire Under the Elms: Article
Brittany Merriweather
20th Century American Drama
Daniel Pigg
4/9/12
This article discusses several different elements of the play. It talks about things such as the nature of the play, the setting, and even the concerns that were happen around the time that the play was written. The critic opens up by giving a brief synopsis of what’s happening in the outside world during the time that Eugene O’Neil wrote the play. The article opens up stating how O’Neil takes a difference response with this play as if he was demonstrating Greek theatre. Henry is trying to explain that even though the play does not follow any particular play, that it echoes Hippolytus and Medea which both involve incest and infanticide (Henry, 2006). This type of behavior was highly intolerable during this time; this is what made the Desire Under the Elm stick out to readers and reviewers. In the article, the main point that is brought up is the desire between Eben and Abby. From the moment that Abby is known at the house, there is some form of tension between her and Eben. While Eben tries to remain loyal to the memory of his mother he his overcome by Abby, with her beauty, charm, and grace (Henry, 2006). It is hard for Eben to confess his love or true feelings for Abby because it is hard for him to accept Abby’s place in his home and the fact that she will one day own the farm that was robbed from his mother. Eben truly believes that Abby is an intruder, that is trying to seek his inheritance. All the while Abby is the type of person that had learned to fight for what she wants, and she will get it by any means necessary (Henry, 2006). The article also speaks on Abby as a person. Henry feels that Abby would’ve made a great wife for Ephram for as long as he lived, if Eben had not been around (Henry, 2006). Abby was the type of woman that knew how to get what she wanted. In this case, in this story Abby