淺析《榆樹(shù)下的欲望》中的悲劇性

PAGE題目：AnalysisontheTragedyinDesireUndertheElms淺析《榆樹(shù)下的欲望》中的悲劇性PAGE5PAGE1AbstractEugeneO'Neill,thesoulfigureinthehistoryofAmericandrama,hadwontheNobelPrizeforLiteratureandthePulitzerAwardsforfourtimes.InthehistoryofAmericanliterature,andeventhewholehistoryofworldliterature,hehadanunshakableposition.HedevotedhislifetoreformingAmericandrama,experimentingwithdramatictechniquesanddissectingallaspectsofhumannature.HewasalwaysconcernedaboutthelivingconditionofmodernAmericansanddaredtorevealthemorbidnatureofmodernlife.DesireundertheElmswassuchaplaythatshowedthetragedydrivenbyhumandesire.Thestruggleforpropertyandtheentanglementofthebodysatirizedhowhumannaturewassuppressedandrepressedinasocietydominatedbymoney.Itwasthedesireforpropertythatintriguedfatherandson,husbandandwife,andbrothers.Infact,thetragedyofthisworkwasnotthedesireitself,butthecharacter'sdesireoutofcontrol.Itwastheirrationaldesirethatmadethecharactersgototheextreme,resultinginthetragedyofincestandkillingchildren.Thispaperattemptstorevealthecausesofthetragedyfromtheaspectsofcharacters,tragicsourcesandthefateoftheprotagonistsinDesireUndertheElms.Byanalyzingthetragedycausedbyhumandesireandrevealingthecoreofhumannature,thispaperfurthercriticizesandreflectsonthehumantragedycausedbyhumandesire,andtriestocallforamodernreasonandorder.ThefirstchapterexplainsO'Neill'suniqueviewoftragedyfromhistimeandpersonallifeexperience.Thesecondchapterreviewsthemaincontentandstorydevelopmentofdrama.ThethirdchapterunderstandsthebackgroundofO'Neill'swritingandsometragicinterpretations.Thenanalyzesthecharactersoftheplay,suchasCabot,EbenandAbby,aswellastheinevitabilityoftheirtragicendings.Thegreeddesirewillcausethetragedyofhumannature.AndalsoanalyzestheconnectionsbetweenO’Neill’splaysandancientGreektragedy,whichdrawlessonsfromit.Thefifthchapterismainlytoreflect,throughthetragicfateoftheprotagonist,tocriticizeandreflectontheexpansionofdesireinasocietydominatedbymoney,thuscallingforamodernreasonandorder.Keywords:tragedydesirehumannature

摘要尤金?奧尼爾，美國(guó)戲劇史上的靈魂人物，曾獲得諾貝爾文學(xué)獎(jiǎng)以及四次普利策獎(jiǎng)。在美國(guó)文學(xué)史上，乃至整個(gè)世界文學(xué)史上有著不可撼動(dòng)的地位。他一生致力于改革美國(guó)戲劇，大膽嘗試各種戲劇技巧，并對(duì)人性的各個(gè)層面犀利解剖。他始終關(guān)注者現(xiàn)代美國(guó)人的生存狀態(tài)，勇于揭示現(xiàn)代生活的病態(tài)性?！队軜?shù)下的欲望》正是這樣一部展示人為欲望所驅(qū)使的悲劇。財(cái)產(chǎn)的爭(zhēng)奪，肉體的糾纏都諷刺了在金錢占統(tǒng)治地位的社會(huì)里，人的本性是如何被壓抑和扭曲的。正是對(duì)財(cái)產(chǎn)的欲望使父子，夫妻和兄弟間爾虞我詐。事實(shí)上，這部作品的悲劇性并不是欲望的本身，而是人物欲望的失控，是非理性的欲望才使人物走向極端，造成亂倫和殺子的悲劇。本文擬從研究《榆樹(shù)下的欲望》的人物性格，悲劇來(lái)源及主人公命運(yùn)方面，結(jié)合相關(guān)書(shū)籍資料揭示其悲劇形成的原因。分析人類的欲望所造成悲劇性，揭示人性內(nèi)核，從而進(jìn)一步批判并反思人類的欲望所造成的人性悲劇，試圖呼喚一種現(xiàn)代的理性和秩序。第一章從奧尼爾的所處時(shí)代以及個(gè)人生活經(jīng)歷闡釋他獨(dú)特的悲劇觀。第二章回顧戲劇的主要內(nèi)容及故事發(fā)展。第三章簡(jiǎn)單闡述戲劇《榆樹(shù)下的欲望》的創(chuàng)作背景以及奧尼爾的一些悲劇解讀,并分析戲劇中凱伯特，伊本，愛(ài)比等主要人物形象的性格以及悲劇結(jié)局的體現(xiàn)及其必然性。貪婪的欲望會(huì)造成人性悲劇。以及奧尼爾戲劇對(duì)于古希臘悲劇的借鑒以及學(xué)習(xí)。最后一部分主要是進(jìn)行反思，通過(guò)主人公悲劇性的命運(yùn)，批判并反思在金錢占統(tǒng)治地位的社會(huì)中欲望的膨脹，從而呼吁一種現(xiàn)代的理性和秩序。關(guān)鍵詞：悲劇欲望人性

ContentsTOC\o"1-3"\h\uAbstract=1\*romani摘要=2\*romaniiContents=3\*romaniii-25281Introduction 錯(cuò)誤!未定義書(shū)簽。146952Literaturereview 13Analysisonthisbook14723 2326243.1Thecreationbackground 2251673.2Thereasonsofcharacters'stragedies 3286533.3Theembodimentoftheirtragedies 5265803.4TheconnectionsbetweenO'Neill'splaysandancientGreektragedy 750014

Reflectionofthefatesofthecharacters 826375Conclusion 916278Acknowledgements 1026143References 錯(cuò)誤!未定義書(shū)簽。PAGE11IntroductonWhenwetalkabouttheAmericandrama,itishardtoignoreaman-EugeneO’Neill.KnownasthefatherofAmericandrama,hecompletedmorethan50playsduring30-yearcareer.HehadwontheNobelPrizeinliteratureandPulitzerprizesforfourtimes,andhehadbeenamonumentinthehistoryofAmericanliterature.O’NeillwasborninanactorfamilyinNewYork.Asateenager,hetraveledaroundthecountrywithhisfather.HewasadmittedtoPrincetonuniversity,buthewasexpelledduetoschoolrulesafterayear.Afterthen,hetraveledtomakealivingaroundAfricaandSouthAmerica.In1914,hewenttotakeacourseindramaticartsandsometheoriesofIbsenandStrindberginHarvardUniversity.Inhisearlylife,manydisappointmentshadaprofoundinfluenceonO’Neill’soutlookonlifeandworldview,consequentlyaffectinghisliterarycreation.Itcanbesaidthatthetragiccolorwasomnipresentinhisplays.DesireUndertheElmswasoneofO’Neill’soutstandingliteraryworksinhismiddleperiodofcreation.Theplaydepictedthetragicstoryofordinarypeopleunderthetroubleentanglementofmaterialityandpassion.Inthisplay,heneutralizedtheindividualtragedyandsocialintegrationofdramaseries,fromthesetwoperspectives,reflectingtheprotagonist’sthoughtandtheredemptionofhumannature.Theauthorinterpretedtheblackmaterialpossessivenessandirresistibledesireofsex.2LiteraturereviewDesireUndertheElmswasanearlyrealisticmasterpiecebyEugeneO’Neill,whichwasatragicdramainthreeacts.ThedramapremieredattheGreenwichvillagetheateronNovember11,1924.LikemanyO’Neill’sotherworks,thistragedyrevolvedaroundfamilyconflict.Thecharactersoftheplaywereundertheshadowoftheelmtrees,andtheywereimmersedintheabyssoftheirdesires.AsSchopenhauersaid“thehumandesireisthemostpainful”.Underthedominationofdesire,everyonehadadistortedcharacterinthisplay.Theirloveandhatredwerepushedtotheextremebythisdesire.Preciselybecauseofthisextremeloveandhatred,therewasatragicstory.Sowhatkindofstorydidtheplaytell?ThisplaytoldO’Neill’spassionateinterpretationofthetragedyofdesire.Thecontradictionintheplayrevolvedaroundthesuccessionofthefarm.TheplaytoldastoryofafarminNewEnglandinthemiddle19thcentury.Cabot,75-year-oldfarmer,whoreturnedtothefarmwithhisthirdwifeaftertwomonthsawayfromhome.PeterandSimon,thesonsofthefirstwife,weretiredofthefarmandtheharshlivesofexploitation,andhadnohopeofinheritingthefarm.Theyagreedtotradewiththeirhalf-brother,Eben,givingupthefarm’sinheritanceandtakingthemoneytowashgoldinCalifornia.Whereas,Cabot’syoungersonEbenobviouslywon’tgiveuptheinheritanceofthefarmhouse,hestolethemoneythathisfatherhidunderthefloor,thentradedwithhisbrothers.Hechosetostayonthefarmwithhisstrongpossessivedesireandtriedtotakeownershipofthefarmwithhisfatherandhisstepmother.HestayedforthelandwithaninstinctivehostilitytoAbby.Abbywasyoungerandsexy,hewasattractedtothebodyofthiswomanlikehisfather.Finally,hecan'tresistthetemptationofAbby.Thesetwopeopleweregangingupandgivingbirthtoason.Intheend,whenheheardfromhisfatherthatfarmbelongedtoAbbyandtheirson,andsheeventoldhisfatherthathewantedtoharassher.Hefeltthathewascheatedandbetrayed.Thecontradictionbetweenfatherandsoneruptedintoaviolentaction.InordertodetainEbenandprovetohimthatherloveismorethananythingelseintheworld,AbbyagreedtokillherandEben'sson.TheangryEbenrealizedthatthelovebetweenthemwassosincereandintenseafterreportingtothepolice.HerushedbacktotakeresponsibilityforthecrimewithAbby,andbothfollowedthesherifftoacceptthelaw.ThisplaywasbasedontheNewEnglandfarm,itonceagainreappearedthethemeoftheconflictbetweenlandandsea,realityandideal,materialandspiritinO’Neill’sworks.TheCabots,wholivedonthisfarm,werefullofstrong,obsessivelygreed.Thiskindofgreedmadethefamilyhateeachother.Inthecourtyardsurroundedbythestonewall,thisplacefullofcold,suffocatingsmellofblood,withoutanywarmthoffamilyaffection.Everymanintheplaywasacaptiveofmaterialdesires.Theyyearnedforpossessingthefarm,possessingwealth,possessinggoldandpossessingwomen.Intensematerialdesiresleadtothedistortionofthecharacters’emotionsandthevariationofthemind,whichmadethemdissimilatedliketheloweranimals.Thisplaydealtwithtwoissues,moneyrelationshipsandsexualpsychology.IntheCabotfamily,therelationshipbetweenpeoplewasentirelybasedonmoney.Sonfatherandstepmother,thethreecloselyrelatedpeopleweremutuallyexclusive,becausetheyweretotallydrivenbyeconomicinterests,andeveryone'seyeswerejuststaringatthefarm.Everyonewantedtotakepossessionofit.Thegreedandastrongdesireforpossessionoftheland,aswellasthedesireforphysicalgratification,makingtheirhumanitydistortedanddissimilated.3Analysisonthisbook3.1ThecreationbackgroundAsthegreatestplaywrightinthehistoryofAmericandrama,O'NeillhadalwaysbeenconcernedaboutthelivingconditionsofmodernAmericans.HewasdeeplyworriedandpessimisticaboutthesituationinwhichmodernAmericansocietywasfloodedwithmaterialdesires.Humanbeingsandemotionssuffergreattrauma.Atthebeginningofthe20thcentury,theAmericansocietyshiftedfromthefreecapitalismtothemonopolycapitalism,andthecapitalisteconomydevelopedrapidly.However,thechangeofmateriallifedidnotbringpeopleintotheparadiseofAmericandream.Instead,thedevelopmentofscienceandmaterialcivilizationhaddestroyedthetraditionalmoralityandreligiousbelief.Thepursuitofmaterialandsensualdesiresfilledpeople’slife,butitcannotfillthespiritualvacancy.ThecatastropheofthefirstWorldWarcompletelydisintegratedthevaluesestablishedintherisingperiodofcapitalismandmadepeoplesuffergreatdisillusionmentinspirit.O'Neill,throughaseriesofthought-provokingworks,revealedthemorbidnatureofmodernlifewhichindulgedinthematerialismoftheAmericanSociety.Theplay,DesireUndertheElmswassuchatragedythatpresentedhumanbeingsweredrivenbymaterialdesires,andthisdesiredestroyedthespiritualvalueofhumannature.3.2Thereasonsofcharacter’stragediesTheauthordescribedallthecharactersintheplaywithanimalimages:theprotagonist,oldCabot,alwayslikedtogotothefarmtosleepwithcows,wherehefeelswarmandcomfortable.WhenPeterandSimonhadameal,theyweresqueezedtogether,bumpingintoeachother,"liketwocalvesgoingtoeattogether,"Abbywascalledasacowandasow,andinthesceneofheradulterywithEben,they"gaspedliketwoanimals."Afterwards,Ebencalledhimself"thebestchickeninthisnest."Throughthesedescriptions,O'Neillshowedtheanimalsideofman,showingthatmanisananimal,andthatisthefinalproductofevolutioninDarwinianthought.ButO'Neillhadneverregardedmanasasoullessanimal.Throughtheseexamples,hewassimplytryingtoshowthatwhenman'suncontrollablematerialdesirewasseriouslyinflated,itcancompletelydeprivemanofhisdignity,belittlehisidentity,andshatterthenoblesideinhumannature.Undoubtedly,OldCabotwasanotherimagethatO'Neillbasedonhisfather'sprototypecreatedacharacter.Hewasstingyandgreedy,andhehadastrongdesiretooccupytheland,believedthatlandwastheonlyreliablewealth.Influencedbypuritanism,hebecameaviolent,cruel,andlustfulascetic.Henotonlykilledhimself,butalsodrovehiswifeandsontoworkforthefarmlikeslaves.Hedugafarmoutoftherock,andthefarmwastheonlyobjectheloved.Besides,hedidnotloveanything,nordidheloveanyone.Inhiseyes,hiswivesandsons,likecattleandhorses,weretoolsofhisfarmwork.Hisheartbecameascoldasastone,untilhistwowivesweretiredtodeath,thetwosonsranawayatthesametime,andhewascursedandhatedbythethreesonswithoutrepentance.Asamaninthepracticalsense,hehadlostallmeanings.Hehadnothinginmindbutastrongdesireformateriality.Hedidnotknowthefeelings,thefamily,orthelove.Hemarriedayoung,sexywoman,Abby.Becausehewasdisappointedwithhisexistingsonandmarriedatoolthatcouldgivehimason.Heexpectedthatthenewsonwouldmakehisdesiretopossessthefarmlastevenafterhisdeath."Mywifeisnotme.Onlymysonismyfleshandblood.Mythingsshouldbelefttomeandlefttothem,andthesethingsstillbelongtome--eventhoughIdied.ThepurposeandmeaningofexistencetooldCabotwastopossessforever,"Iwilllive,andliveforever!Or,ifIcan't,I'llsetfiretoitwhenI'mdying,andwatchitburn--thishouse(everywheatstalkhere,everytree,tillthelastgrass!Iwillsitandwatchaseverythingdieswithme,andnoonecanpossessthethingsthatoncebelongedtome.GreedandselfishnessmadeoldCabotspoilother’shappinessofothersanddeprivehimofhisownjoy.Heoftenfeltlonely,andthoughitwashotoutside,hefeltachillinhisownhome.Hedidnotloveanyone,andnobodylovedhim.WhenhegloatedoverthefactthatEbenandAbbyhadbeentakenawaybythesheriff,hehadnodoubtpushedhimselfintothedarkabyss.AlthoughEbenemphasizedformanytimesthat"Iammymother's,everydropofbloodishers,"buthewasstilltheproductofbothparents.Heinheritedbothhismother'ssensitivity,hishopesforbeautyandhisdesireforlove.Andhealsoinheritedhisfather'scruelty,greedandlust.Inhisattitudetothefarmandtheland,hewasexactlylikehisfather,asPeterandAbbyhadsaid,"outofamold."Amongthethreebrothers,onlyinhiseyes,thefarmwas"beautiful".Buttherewasadifferentreasonforhisdesiretoownthefarm.Hehadalwaysbelievedthatthefarmwasthepropertyofhismother,whohadbeencheatedoutofhismotherbyoldCabot.Healsowitnessedthedeathofthiskindmother.Therefore,retakingbackthefarmandavengingforhismotherhadalwaysbeenhismotive.InoldCabot'seyes,though,Ebenwas“asoft,half-manlyman”,buthehadaresentfulgrudgeinhiseyebrows.Apairofdefiantblackeyesconjuresupatrappedbeastwithaferocious,repressedforce.Forthischaracter,O'NeillagainrevealedthefamousOedipuscomplexinmodernpsychology,thatis,theMotherfixation.Inordertoremovetheobstaclestopossessthefarm,Ebenenticedtwohalf-brothers,PeterandSimon,togiveuptheirinheritanceofthefarm.HetookoutthemoneythatoldCabothadsaved,andhethoughtitshouldhavebelongedtohismotherinexchangeforacontractsignedbythetwomentoassignhim2/3oftheinheritanceofthefarm.Whenthegoalwasachieved,hewasecstatic:"Nowit'sthefuckingGrangeagain,it'smine.Thesearemycows!IfImilkmycows,Iwouldratherhavemyfingerscutoff.”EvenhisincestuousbehaviorwithAbbyatfirstpleasedhimwiththepossessionofhisfather'swifetoavengehisfatherandcomforthismother'sspirit.InthethirdsceneinEben'smother'sroom,Ebenseemedtobepromptedbyhismother.Heshouted,“Iknow!Iknowwhy.Itwasherrevengeonhim-sothatshecouldrestinthegrave.”Undoubtedly,thearrivalofAbbyposeaprofoundthreattohispossessionofthefarm.HeregardedAbbyasagoblin,alwayshostileandresentfultoheruntilthetragedyoccurred.Abbyhadahardlife.Shelosthermotherwhenshewasveryyoung,thenshebecameanorphanearly.“Ihavetastesallthepainandbitternessoftheworld,nothingbutwork.”Afterthemarriage,shedidnotexpectherhusbandwasadrunkard,shestillhadtogotoworkforothers,asadomestichelper.Whenthechilddiedandherhusbanddied,shecouldonlyhelpotherpeople."Ineverdidmyownworkformyfamily."AtthistimeoldCabotcame,eventhoughhewasseventiesandhedidn'tmatchherhealthandbeauty,butAbbystillmarriedhim.ItwasclearthatAbbywasmarriedtooldCabot,whosoldherbodyinexchangeforahome.Herdesireforhomeandpossessionfromthemomentshecameoutofthesceneunmistakablyexposedthesurfaceof"home!"“Beautiful!It'sbeautiful.Ican'tbelieveit'smine.”WhenoldCabotsaid,"Afamilyneedsawoman!Sheimmediatelycorrected,“Awomanmusthaveahome!”TheexchangeofsubjectandobjectinthesetwosentencesvividlyshowsthestrongpossessivenessofAbby.Afterbecomingthemistressofthefarm,sherepeated:“Thisismyfarm--thisismyhome--andthisismykitchen.”Even"Thisismybedroom--thisismybed."TheintensematerialdesireofAbbywasalsofullyreflected.TheothertwosonsofoldCabot,PeterandSimon,alsoshowedastrongdesireformateriality.Butwhattheywantisnotland,butgold.TheyhatedtheendlessworkofthefarmanddreamedofgoingtoCaliforniatopanningforgold.Whentheysawthesungoingdown,theythoughtofthewesternCalifornia’sgod.Simoneventhoughtofhisdeadwife:"Herhairlookslikethetailofahorse,andtheyellowonelikegold.FromO'Neill'splays,readerscanalwaysfeelhisinsightandsharpanatomyofhumannatureatalllevels.O'Neill,liketheancientGreeks,regardedmanasatragicfigure.O'Neillbelievedthathumantragedywasnotonlycausedbyexternalforce.Theultimatecauseofhumandestructionwastheblackdesireofhumannature.Mancannotescapetheblackdesireofhisnature,thereforehecannotescapehistragicfate.Thisbookisjustsuchatragedythatshowovermuchdesiresdestroythespiritualvalueofhumanbeings.O’NeilldissectstheflawsofhumannaturethroughtheCabot,EbenandAbby’stragedies,andpointsoutthatitisgreeddestroyshumannature.Andwhatsavesthehumancanonlybethesublimationofhumannatureandthepurificationofsoul.3.3TheembodimentoftheirtragediesCabot,thefarmowner,wasthehostinthisplay.Hewasamanbornfortheland.Thelandandthefarmwerethewholemeaningofhislife.Hehadanenchantedgreedfortheland.Hehadalmostdevotedhislifetothecultivationoftherockywastelandinindomitable,unrepentant,andunresentfulmind.Hisfirstactintheplaywastoremarryandreturnhomewithhisthirdyoungwife,Abby.OldCabotremarriedtoescapeloneliness,helikedwomen,butthefirsttwowivescouldnotbeartheendlessheavywork,andweretorturedtodeath.Thedeathofthetwowomendidnotimpresstheirhusband.Dayafterday,withtheendlessexpansionofthefarm,whichledCabot’sheartashardasstone,socoldassteel,sothathecannotcommunicatewithothers.HehadpouredouthislifetoAbby,butitturnedouttobeinvain,whichmadehimfeelmorelonely.Helovedbeastmorethanhisownrelatives,becausethecowwillnotcomplain,andhiswives,sonsallhatedhimandcursedhim.ForCabot,hisgreedofthelandandthefarmpresentedthathewouldbringpropertyintothecoffin.ForCabot,oldashewas,theheadofthefamilywasnolessmajesticthanthekingofbeasts,staringathisterritoryanddefendinghisfarm.Astheownerofthefarm,hewashard-workingandrough;extremelyselfishandextremelylonely.Hetriedtoexpandhislandbyhardstruggling,butlosthismostpreciousaffectionduringthisprocess.However,hethoughtitwasthetestofgodforhim,sohecontinuedhisdetermination.Hetriedtotakethefarmandtheyouthofhissonsintohisownhands,treatinghisthreesonsaspermanentworkersandforcingthemtoliveinthefieldslikecattle.Sohissonsregardedhimasatyrant,andallhatedhimandwantedtorebelagainsthim.Hetorturedhistwopoorwivesoneafteranotherwithendlesswork,andnow,whenhewasold,hesuddenlywantedtoremarryagain.Hemarriedayoungwoman,40yearsold,justforthesakeofneedofsex,andheneededawomanwhowouldservedforhim.Besides,Abbywasnotonlyyoung,butalsosexyandbeautiful.Hewassatisfiedwithoccupyingher.WehavetosaythatO'Neillwasverygoodatportrayingpeopleindetails.WhenAbbyfirstenteredthehousefilledwithjoyandnovelty,lookingathernewhome,shesincerelyexclaimed:"Home,beautiful-beautiful!Idon'tbelieveit.It'sreallymine!"Assoonasherwordsjustsaidthatfinish,Cabotsnappedandcorrectedher:"Yours?Mine!"HestaredhardatAbbywithsharpeyes,asifpiercingherheart.Intwoshortwords,theaustere,selfish,coldnatureofCabot’smindwasrevealedtobeextremelytrue.Inhismind,hedidnotregardAbbyashisrelativesandfamilymembers.Itwasnowonderthattheland,thefarmandthemoneywereeverythingforoldCabot.Theywerebetterthananythingelseintheworld.Eben,theyoungestson,washandsomeandasgreedyashisfather.Heinsistedthatthefarmwasleftbyhismother,thatitshouldbelongtohim,sohehadthemostlegalinheritanceinthefamily.Inordertogetthefarm,Ebenhadtosubmittohumiliationinfrontofhissternfather.However,hewasalittlemorecunningthanhishalfbrothers,andstolethegoldcoinsthathisfatherhadhiddenunderthefloorandboughttheinheritancerightsofthetwobrothers.WhenPeterandSimonagreedtothedeal,Eben'seyesglowedexcitedly:“Itwasmymother’sfarmagain.Itwasmine.Theseweremycattle.”Eben'swordssoundedlikethoseofhisfather,Cabot.Ebenproudlypulledawayhishalf-brothers,andnowandtheninstinctivelyhatedhisnewstepmother,Abby.Fearingthathemightbedeceivedandshewouldtakeawayhisinheritance.So,likehisfather,hewasattractedbyAbby'sbeauty,andatthesametimehewatchedhereveryminute.Duringthathotseason,thephysicalattractionbecameanirresistibleforce,andEbenstruggledtopullawayfromAbby'scharm,heknewthathewasgoingtofightnotonlywithhisfather,butnowwithhisnewstepmothertofightforhisrightinthishouse.Ebenisayoungmanwithamothercomplex.Hemadenosecretofhishatredagainsthisfather,because"thedeviloutofhell"puthismothertodeathasacow,HetookpossessionoftheprostituteMinnieasrevengeforhisfather.HespokeinachallengingtonetohisbrothersabouthisrelationshipwithMinnie.HeresistedtheteasingofhisyoungstepmotherandstruggledpainfullyuntilhecouldnotresistthetemptationofAbby.Finally,havingsexwithAbbyinhismother’sroom.Hewassurprisedbythecharmofthesexy,beautifulandvulgarwomanwhohadjustenteredthedoor.Sheintroducedherselftohiminaveryseductivevoice.WhenEbenfelttheattractionofherbody,hejumpedup,glaredather,andthensaidinahardbreath,"Yougotothehell".Thoughhewasonthealert,hecouldnotresistthecharmofAbby.Whenhefelthimselfconfused,hepushedouthishandsviolentlyandyelled,"No,youoldbitch!Ihateyou!"Hispossessivedesireofthewomanhasbeenprovokedbyher,butfortheland,hehadtodesperatelysuppresshisowndesire.Becauseheknewthatthisdesirewassinful,dangerousandmoreimportantly,thathisinheritancerightstothefarmwouldbethreatened.Whenatlasthecannotresistthecharmandtrickofthewoman,hewasnolongerboundhimself,andthelongsuppressedpassionalmostburnedhimself.HewaspleasedwithhispossessionofAbby,hisrevengeforhisfatherandredressforhismother.Herealizedaprofoundpainuntiltheirchildwasborn.Becausehecouldnotadmitthatthebabywashisownson,buta"brother".Infact,itwasnotsosimple.WhenEbenheardfromhisfatherthatthefarmwasownedbyhis"brother",thenewbaby,thedeep-rootedcontradictionsbetweenthefatherandthesonfinallyeruptedviolentlyandtheywrestledtogether.EbenstronglybelievedthatAbbydeceivedhimbygivingbirthtoachildonafarm.HewasreallymadandturnedhisinfatuationwithAbbyintoanunstoppablehatred.EbensaidhewasgoingtoCaliforniaandtoldhisfathertruth.InthebitterpleasofAbby,hesaidwithoutthinkingthatifthechilddidnotexist,hewouldloveherasmuchasbefore.Itcausedaterribletragedy,thebabywassmotheredtodeathwithapillowbyhismother.AssoonasEbenheardthenewsofhisdeath,hemistakenlyassumedthathisoldfatherhadbeenkilled.HewasexcitedtohelpAbbycoverupthecrimescene,butonceagainhewasenragedwhenhefoundoutthatthedeadmanwasnothisfatherbuthisson.HisconfessionwasforrevengetoAbby!Althoughattheendoftheplay,EbenfinallyrealizedthatAbbykilledtheirsonoutofloveforhimself,hehurriedbacktoaskforherforgivenessandtookacceptthesanctionofthelawtogether.YoungandbeautifulAbbywasthecentralfigureoftheplay.Shewasinthemiddleoftwomenandtwogenerations.ShemarriedoldCabotwhocanbeherfatherwithabsolutelyattempt,tofindafamilyofherown.ThemoreimportantreasonwasthatCabothadanattractivefarm,shethoughtthatshecanbecometherealownerofthefarmaslongasafewyearsofgrievance.Thiswasthefundamentalpurposeofhermarriage.Abbywasfullofdisgustatthebossy,oldandselfishCabot.Desirehadcompletelyreplacedthelove,andalltherelationshipsrevolvedaroundthemoneyandland.Abbywasanunusualwoman.Fromthefirsttimeshemetheryoungeststepchild,Eben,sherealizedthatEbenwouldbeheropponentfortheinheritanceofthefarm.Sheknewthathemadenosecretofhisgreedandcovetingoverthefarm.Thedesireforthingsandfleshfilledthemwithanimosity,andfromthebeginningtheymetwithswords.AbbywasgladthatEben'stwobrothershadgonefaraway.NowshejusthadtoconcentrateonEben.Shewasconfidentthatshecancontrolhim.ThesurvivalplightinspiredthewisdomandsurvivalinstinctofAbby,andthewomanwhoneverobeyedthesituationimmediatelystartedtoactpositively.Inspiteofmoralandconsciencecondemnation,shemadeadiscordbetweentheCabotandhisson:"Ebentriedtoseducemeandflirtwithme."Itworked.OldCabotwasfurious.IfEbenwerehere,aterribletragedywouldhappened.JustlikeTheseus,thefuriousfatherintheGreektragedyHippolytus.Ontheonehand,"I'mgoingtogiveyouason,"shesaidtooldCabot,ontheotherhand,shekneltbesideherhusbandandpretendedtopraytoGod.HereyessquintingatCabotwithsarcasmandvictory.AbbybegantolureEben.Sheshowedthecharmofthefemaleto