Consider Desire Under the Elms as the Tragedy of Passion. 

Answer

Consider Desire Under the Elms as a tragedy of passions. [2019] ✪✪✪

Or, Comment on “Desire under the Elms” as a tragedy of passions. [2016]

Eugene O’Neill (1888–1953), in his play Desire Under the Elms (1924), presents a powerful tragedy born from human passions. The play shows how love, greed, lust, and revenge destroy the peace of the Cabot family. Each character is controlled by strong emotions rather than reason. These passions lead them to sin, guilt, and sorrow. O’Neill combines deep emotion with tragic beauty. Through these passionate characters, he shows how desire becomes the cause of their downfall and tragedy.

Passion for Love and Possession: The play begins with Eben’s desire to claim the farm and to take revenge on his father. His passion mixes love and hatred. When Abbie comes, his heart burns with both attraction and anger. He says, 

“She may’ve been his’n—but she’s mine now.” 

His words show lust mixed with revenge. Abbie, too, is full of strong desire. She wants love, home, and power. Their passion becomes sinful and destructive. It shows how love turns into tragic obsession.

Abbie’s Passionate Nature: Abbie’s passion is stronger than her reason. At first, she marries Cabot for his farm, but soon she is drawn to Eben. She says, 

“Let me kiss ye, Eben! I’ll be everythin’ she was t’ ye!”  

Her words show burning desire. Her love becomes blind and uncontrolled. To prove her love, she kills her baby. This act of passion brings her tragedy. Her emotions lead her from love to madness and death.

Eben’s Passion and Guilt: Eben’s heart is full of mixed feelings. He loves Abbie but also hates her as his father’s wife. He is torn between love and revenge. His passion for Abbie begins as revenge but turns into real love. When Abbie kills their baby, he says,

 “I’ll tell the Sheriff.” 

Then guilt