How does O’Neill react to the philosophy of Puritanism? Discuss it in reference to the play “Desire Under the Elms”.

Answer

How does O’Neill react to the philosophy of Puritanism? Discuss it in reference to the play “Desire Under the Elms”. [2017]  

Eugene O’Neill (1888–1953), in his play Desire Under the Elms (1924), reacts strongly to the strict philosophy of Puritanism. The Puritans believed in hard work, sin, and punishment. They denied joy and passion in life. In the play, O’Neill shows how this belief destroys human happiness. Ephraim Cabot follows the Puritan code blindly, and his life becomes full of loneliness and pain. O’Neill rejects Puritan hardness and praises natural human desires and emotions as essential for life. 

Puritan Faith and Harsh Discipline: Cabot represents the Puritan spirit in the play. He believes in hard work and suffering as ways to please God. He says, 

“God’s hard, not easy.” 

This shows his belief that life must be full of pain. He forces his sons to work day and night on the stony farm. His heart is full of pride, not love. O’Neill uses Cabot to criticize the Puritan idea that faith means rejecting joy. He shows that such belief makes life dry and cruel.

Hard Work and Lack of Humanity: The Puritan faith values work more than feelings. Cabot thinks his land is sacred because he earned it with sweat and pain. But his love for the farm becomes greed. He forgets his family’s needs. His wives die in sorrow, and his sons hate him. O’Neill shows that work without love brings emptiness. The stones on the land become symbols of Cabot’s hard heart and the cold Puritan spirit.

Suppression of Desire and Joy: Puritanism teaches people to control emotions and desires. But O’Neill believes that natural desires are part of human life. Eben and Abbie’s love is sinful by Puritan law, yet it is full of life. Abbie says, 

“Can’t ye see it’s got t’ be that an’ more—much more—fur me t’ be happy?”

Her words express passion and longing. O’Neill