Desire Under the Elms Questions and Answers
Desire Under the Elms
What is the significance of the title Desire Under the Elms?
The significance of the title Desire Under the Elms is that it highlights the earthy nature of human passions. Far from being unnatural or out of the ordinary, desire is an important part of what it...
Desire Under the Elms
Is Eugene O'Neill's play Desire Under the Elms an example of naturalistic theater?
Desire Under the Elms is an example of naturalistic theater.
Desire Under the Elms
How did classical mythology influence Eugene O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms?
Eugene O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms draws heavily on classical mythology and Greek tragedy through themes like incest, infanticide, and fate. The play echoes Euripides' Hippolytus and Medea, and...
Desire Under the Elms
How is Desire Under the Elms similar to a Greek tragedy?
Desire Under the Elms is similar to a Greek tragedy in its focus on family rivalry, incest, and murder. The Oedipal themes, akin to those in Hippolytus, reflect primal and universal human conflicts....
Desire Under the Elms
How does the playwright use symbols to accentuate character roles in Desire Under the Elms?
In "Desire Under the Elms," symbols like money and land accentuate character roles by highlighting their motivations and conflicts. Money represents power, entitlement, and corruption, influencing...
Desire Under the Elms
Who are the main characters in Desire Under the Elms?
The main characters in Eugene O'Neill's play include Ephraim Cabot, the domineering patriarch; his sons Eben, Simeon, and Peter; and Abbie Putnam, Ephraim's much younger wife. Ephraim's harsh nature...
Desire Under the Elms
Why is Ephraim Cabot reluctant to give his land to others, including his children, in Desire Under the Elms?
Ephraim Cabot is reluctant to give his land to others, including his children, due to his greedy and selfish nature. He is depicted as grasping, rude, and cold-hearted, with no regard for family ties...
Desire Under the Elms
In Desire Under the Elms, why is the character Ephraim mean?
Ephraim's mean nature in "Desire Under the Elms" is essential for the play's conflicts and is rooted in his harsh life experiences. His austere personality, arrogance, and oppressive demeanor create...
Desire Under the Elms
In Desire Under the Elms, is Eben more similar to his mother or father?
Eben is more similar to his father, Ephraim, than to his mother in Eugene O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms. Both characters share a cold fierceness, competitiveness, and a distrustful nature. They are...
Desire Under the Elms
How does the plot of "Desire Under the Elms" relate to its chronology?
The dramatic plot of Desire Under the Elms is in close chronological order, reflecting a naturalistic order. The chronology of the play's events underwrite its theme of crime and punishment.