description Desire Under the Elms Overview
Desire Under the Elms is a 1924 tragedy by American playwright Eugene O'Neill, set on an isolated New England farm owned by the severe patriarch Ephraim Cabot. The plot centers on Cabot's son Eben and his illicit relationship with Cabot's new wife, Abbie, amid disputes over inheritance, possession, and family resentment. Drawing on Greek tragedy while using rural American speech and a Puritan setting, the play examines desire, greed, guilt, paternity, and the destructive treatment of people and land as property.
help Desire Under the Elms FAQ
Who wrote "Desire Under the Elms" and when did it premiere?
"Desire Under the Elms" is a tragedy written by American playwright Eugene O'Neill that debuted in 1924. It is widely considered one of O'Neill's most important early naturalistic works.
What is the main conflict in "Desire Under the Elms"?
The plot centers on a bitter dispute over the inheritance of a New England farm owned by the severe patriarch Ephraim Cabot. Conflict erupts when Cabot's son Eben begins a passionate and illicit affair with Cabot's new, much younger wife, Abbie.
How does Abbie try to secure the farm in "Desire Under the Elms"?
Abbie marries Ephraim Cabot with the intention of producing an heir to secure the farm for herself. However, when she falls in love with Eben and has a child, she commits a tragic act to prove her love and secure Eben's claim.
What is the significance of the elms in Eugene O'Neill's play?
The two elm trees overshadowing the farmhouse symbolize the matriarchal presence of Eben's deceased mother and the oppressive, fated nature of the characters' desires. They serve as a constant, looming psychological force over the characters' actions.
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