Relations Between the Characters as their Construction Basis in Eugene ONeills "Desire Under the Elms" and "Long Days Journey into Night"

Masters Thesis from the year 2011 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1, University of Gdansk, language: English, abstract: The relations between the characters in Desire Under the Elms and Long Days Journey into Night provide an extensive opportunity to analyze the characters personalities, because only in such relationships do they present their most personal features. The framework of a relation with other character on the stage allows to express their own views and feelings, which gives the opportunity to the readers/viewers to understand their motives. The construction of the characters is based on the context of their relationships, and the relations between the spouses, and between the parents and their children were the subject of an analysis in this dissertation. The comparison of Desire and Long Days Journey showed that although both plays are dealing with similar topics of family relations, there is a visible change in the authors attitude to the topic. While Desire already has some elements of the authors autobiography, it still remains a naturalistic play, focused on the theme of possession and desires to achieve it. Whereas Long Days Journey is a very psychologically profound play in which ONeill managed not only to confront his own personal demons, but also presented a universal picture of a family with all its intricate problems, mutual dependencies and feelings of love and hate. Therefore, the comparison of the two plays proves the authors maturity and development as an artist, as well as presents the influences which shaped him in the given time [...]