Analyze the Relationship Between the Father and His Sons in O’Neill’s “Desire Under the Elms”.

Answer

Analyze the relationship between the father and his sons in O’Neil’s “Desire Under the Elms”.  [2018] ✪✪✪

Or, Comment on the relationship between the father and his sons in “Desire Under the Elms”.

Eugene O’Neill (1888–1953), in his play “Desire Under the Elms” (1924), shows a painful and bitter relationship between the father, Ephraim Cabot, and his three sons—Simeon, Peter, and Eben. Their bond is full of hatred, pride, and misunderstanding. Cabot’s cruelty and hardness make his sons rebel against him. Love and trust disappear from their family. Through this broken relationship, O’Neill shows the conflict between generations, power, and human greed for land and control.

Cabot’s Cruel and Hard Nature: Cabot is a strict and selfish father. He only cares for his land, not for his sons. He says, 

“God’s hard, not easy.” 

This shows his belief in hard work and suffering. He forces his sons to work like slaves on the rocky farm. His pride and authority crush their hearts. The farm becomes a prison, not a home. Because of his cruelty, the sons see him as an enemy, not a loving father. O’Neill presents Cabot as a symbol of heartless power.

Simeon and Peter’s Rebellion: Simeon and Peter, Cabot’s elder sons, are tired of their father’s control. They work day and night but get no love or reward. They say, 

“Here—stones atop o’ stones.” 

These words show their hopeless life. They dream of freedom in California’s gold fields. Their plan to sell their share of the farm and leave is a quiet rebellion against their father’s rule. They prefer a hard but free life over slavery under Cabot’s command.

Eben’s Hatred and Desire for Revenge: Eben’s relationship with Cabot is the most bitter. He believes that Cabot killed his mother by overworking her. He says, 

“Didn’t he slave Maw t’ death?”

His heart burns with anger and revenge. When Cabot marries Abbie,