A Quest To Understand What Life Is

Strange Interlude, as the quintessence of American playwright Eugene O'Neill's works, not only creatively adopts some technical devices, such as stream of consciousness, aside and soliloquy, but also contains lots of the playwright's thoughts on life and humanity. It is a play worthy of considerable research attention.Based on American existential psychologist Rollo May's existential psychological ideas, such as the three ways of "being-in-the-world", Rollo May's existential psychological understanding of love, freedom and destiny, etc. and his theory of personality development stages, this thesis conducts a close examination of the four major characters in the play (Nina, Marsden, Evans and Darrell) and thus makes a discussion and exploration of the theme of a quest for the meaning and outlets in life this play implies.This thesis falls into six parts.The introduction starts with the brief introduction of the playwright and the plot of the play, makes a research review on Strange Interlude at home and abroad and thus reveals the objective and significance of the thesis.Chapter One is a brief and selective introduction of Rollo May's existential psychological ideas and thoughts, which lays a foundation for the existential psychological interpretation of the play. Chapter Two analyzes the disharmony of the four characters'three ways of "being-in-the-world" and the overall dissimilation of love, revealing the four characters'existential crisis and anxiety about life and self. Chapter Three mainly explores the four characters'quest for and choices of outlets in life. Nina chooses to seek substitutes for love as her way out; Marsden chooses to watch and wait; Evans chooses to gain confidence by establishing a family and career; and Darrell chooses to wander between resisting and accepting his sensual desire and true feelings. Chapter Four explains the outcomes of the four characters'quest for outlets in life:Evans ends with a sudden death after achieving business success, without knowing the truth of his own life; Darrell plans to live out the rest of his life by devoting to biology and never meddles with human emotions and lives; Nina returns to the embrace of fatherly Marsden and longs for peace in the rest of her life; and Marsden finally realizes his dream, acquiring Nina's companion in the evening of life. In addition, Chapter Four also analyzes the symbolic meanings of personality development stages the four characters'quest implies, and discusses their understanding of life and the possible solution to life in their quest.The conclusion part is a summary and review of the previous arguments of the thesis, revealing the theme of people's quest for the meaning and outlets in life when faced with their existential crisis and the existential psychological ideas this play conveys, i.e. the corresponding relations between the process of the character's quest and Rollo May's theory of personality development stages.