description Beyond the Horizon Overview
Beyond the Horizon is a tragedy by Eugene O'Neill, first produced in 1920, about brothers Robert and Andrew Mayo and the consequences of exchanging their expected paths. Robert abandons his desire to travel and remains on the family farm, while the practically minded Andrew goes to sea. The resulting failures in work, love, and health give the play its naturalistic force; it received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, O'Neill's first of four such awards.
help Beyond the Horizon FAQ
What is Eugene O'Neill's 'Beyond the Horizon' about?
'Beyond the Horizon' is a 1920 tragedy about two brothers, Robert and Andrew Mayo, whose lives are ruined when they swap their intended destinies. Robert abandons his dream of going to sea to run the family farm and marry his love, while the practical Andrew takes to the ocean instead.
Why is 'Beyond the Horizon' significant in the history of American theater?
It was Eugene O'Neill's first full-length play and a major departure from the shallow melodramas popular at the time. It brought a profound, realistic, and naturalistic tragedy to the American stage.
Did 'Beyond the Horizon' win a Pulitzer Prize?
Yes, the play won the 1920 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It established Eugene O'Neill as a major, formidable force in modern American playwriting.
How does the plot resolve for the Mayo brothers?
The path swap is disastrous for both; Robert proves to be a terrible farmer and falls into poverty and illness, while Andrew becomes a cynical, wealthy trader. The play ends tragically with a dying Robert trying to walk toward the horizon he never got to explore.
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