AN ANALYSIS OF CHARACTERS IN SELECTED PLAYS OF EUGENE O'NEILL ACCORDING TO ERIK H. ERIKSON'S IDENTITY THEORY

The purpose of the dissertation is to examine the personality and behavior of principal characters in selected plays of Eugene O'Neill according to Erik H. Erikson's theory of identity. The intention of the study is to determine whether the actions of the characters are motivated by the "problem of identity" as developed and posited by Erikson. The plays discussed and analyzed are: A Touch of the Poet, More Stately Mansions, The Iceman Cometh, Hughie, Long Day's Journey Into Night, and A Moon for the Misbegotten.; The study begins by defining and describing Erikson's theory of identity and then moves to the personality disorders that manifest themselves when identity formation fails to take place. According to Erikson, identity diffusion can be the reason behind the following disturbances which erupt in a given individual: identity consciousness, problem of intimacy, problem of generativity, diffusion of time perspective, diffusion of industry, and the choice of a negative identity.; The chapters dealing with O'Neill's plays begin by analyzing the major dramatic actions and conflicts in order to determine the central characters or protagonist(s). Once the protagonist is selected, his or her behavior is examined in light of each of the six disturbances described by Erikson as constituting identity diffusion.; With respect to the plays chosen for analysis, the researcher demonstrates that in A Touch of the Poet and More Stately Mansions, both Con Melody and Simon Harford's actions are motivated by: identity consciousness, the problem of intimacy and generativity, diffusion of time perspective, diffusion of industry, and the choice of a negative identity. So, too, in The Iceman Cometh and Hughie, Slade, Parritt, Hickey, and Erie Smith manifest all the above disturbances. The only exception here is that in The Iceman Cometh the characters are impervious to identity consciousness. They do not evidence any signs of being preoccupied with the image they represent to others nor are they self-conscious or ashamed of their miserable, but self-chosen, lot in life.; By the time of Long Day's Journey Into Night, O'Neill dispersed the disorders over all four characters. That is, Mary Tyrone reflects in her behavior a severe identity consciousness while the sons exhibit the choice of a negative identity. As for the problem of generativity, it is unique to Mary and James. On the other hand, diffusion of industry is seen in their sons. All four characters, however, reflect the problem of intimacy and a diffusion of time perspective.; The last play discussed, A Moon for the Misbegotten, finds identity consciousness quite pronounced in Josie Hogan while the choice of a negative identity is peculiar to James Tyrone. The only deviation from the pattern of disturbances as Erikson posits them is that O'Neill allows Josie to experience a partial sense of generativity because of her inordinate caring for and love of Tyrone. Nevertheless, this sensation is fragmentary and by the fourth Act of A Moon for the Misbegotten, Josie must relinquish her claim to this stage of development.; In summary, the study conclusively demonstrates that the erratic and ambiguous behavior of the principal characters in the late plays of Eugene O'Neill is the result of internal personality disorders constituting what Erikson calls "the problem of identity." O'Neill's perception of the shifting human personality was so precise that the patterns of behavior he reflected anticipated and parallel the findings of Erik Erikson regarding identity diffusion and the disturbances which substantiate its presence.