On The Theme Of The O' Neill Trilogy Of Tragedies

Reference and innovation in Mourning Becomes Electra are equal to each other.His writing themes are varied because the spirit of ancient Greek tragedy and theachievement of modern psychology are combined with Eugene O'Neill's specialthoughts and beliefs. The paper is gong to discuss about three points:1. Modern echo of fate tragedy"Fate"in Oresteia is a kind of chase power, and the narrative pattern issummarized from the "chase pattern". It is regarded as the ideal carrier to deliver thespirit of ancient Greek tragedy to because it is the kernel of the spirit of ancient Greektragedy to deliver the aesthetic essence and function. In Mourning Becomes Electra,O'Neill uses lots of artistic skills such as symbol, chorus, and Shenandoah chantey tolet modern chase power be involved in, and recreate drama's life. Although it releasesthe madness of incest, it does not degenerate any dramatic tension and power. Andindividual desire replaces family feud; sensibility replaces oracle creating a greatmodern fate tragedy.2. Psychological tragedyIntroduction of Puritan ethic and moral, setting of American civil warbackground, and juxtaposition of Oedipus complex and Electra complex reduce thepossibility of realization of individual desire; aggravate the personal psychologicalpain; reflect the depth of tragic theme. Oppression bring individual rebellion showingexternally as Livonia's "island imago", internally as the "pre-Oedipal world"potentially resists against the "Oedipal world"which is centralized as patriarchy.Persona is the output of collective unconscious. It delivers the oppression to allsocial members made by the pursuit of capital gain, and the erosion to human beings'spirit made by material power. From the individual to the public, O'Neill explorespersonal oppression and resistance one by one, depicting their pain and exposing theirpathogeny, which makes Mourning Becomes Electra be an outstanding modernpsychological tragedy.3. Conflict and conformity of beliefsO'Neill tries to find a way out for the hopeless hero in modern tragedy throughbelief exploration. To treat with national heritage Puritanism, his attitude is criticism,and retrospect. It mainly criticizes the stale conception that the male suppresses theirsense life; however, it shows the positive function of the puritan thoughts as the...