Emperor Jones (1920) is another of O'Neill's ventures into expressionist theater. The play narrates the journey of a black man who starts as a railroad porter and eventually ascends to the position of emperor in the West Indies through a twist of fate.

Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (1949) depicts the life of a salesman who, despite his grand illusions, remains just a small part of the business world. The play explores how his inability to face reality affects his own life and the lives of his family members.

John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath (1939) portrays the struggles of the disenfranchised American worker. The story addresses the economic hardships of the Great Depression, which followed the prosperous period depicted in O'Neill's play.

The Great Gatsby, authored by F. Scott Fitzgerald and released in 1925, offers a glimpse into the lives of the affluent class before the Great Depression. This group, largely carefree, spent much of their time indulging in parties.