Consider Desire Under the Elms as the Tragedy of Passion. 

Answer

Consider Desire Under the Elms as the tragedy of passion. 

Or, discuss the Eben-Abbie relationship.

“Desire Under the Elms” (1924) by Eugene O’Neill (1888 – 1953) is a powerful American tragedy. The tragedy explores themes of love, lust, and the destructive force of passion. The play develops on a farm in New England. It follows the lives of the Cabot family, particularly focusing on Ephraim Cabot, his third wife Abbie Putnam, and his son Eben. The narrative is deeply rooted in Greek tragedy, embodying elements of fate, familial conflict, and the inevitable consequences of unchecked desires.

Unconventional Tragedy: Tragedy means “a play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main character.” “Desire Under the Elms” is an unconventional tragedy. We know that there are sundry features of a traditional tragedy. In this modern tragedy, there is a lack of conventional features.

Negativity: When Cabot gets married to Abbie, Eben takes her negatively. He thinks that She has come to occupy the farmhouse. He hates her for this negative attitude. Negativity will be proved from these dialogues:

Abbie: You are Eben, are you? My name is Abbie.  I am your new mother.

Eben: No, damn you.

Eben says this in a most hostile tone.

From Hatred to Passion: Later, we find him passionate with her. From the first meeting of them, they start to quarrel. But in a quarrel, Abbie always tries to lure him. In Part 2 Scene 3, we get the description of their kissing scene. Suddenly, Abbie comes to his room and kisses him. At first, he does not want to kiss her, but ultimately, he also helps her with passionate kisses. Thus, they have come from hatred to passion.

Open Forbidden Love: Eben tells her after kissing that he thought the lips of Minnie, the local prostitute, were not hers at kissing time. We come to know that Abbie wants to be Eben’s lover. Then Abbie says to her in