浅析《榆树下的欲望》中的悲剧性

PAGE题目：AnalysisontheTragedyinDesireUndertheElms浅析《榆树下的欲望》中的悲剧性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•奥尼尔，美国戏剧史上的灵魂人物，曾获得诺贝尔文学奖以及四次普利策奖。在美国文学史上，乃至整个世界文学史上有着不可撼动的地位。他一生致力于改革美国戏剧，大胆尝试各种戏剧技巧，并对人性的各个层面犀利解剖。他始终关注者现代美国人的生存状态，勇于揭示现代生活的病态性。《榆树下的欲望》正是这样一部展示人为欲望所驱使的悲剧。财产的争夺，肉体的纠缠都讽刺了在金钱占统治地位的社会里，人的本性是如何被压抑和扭曲的。正是对财产的欲望使父子，夫妻和兄弟间尔虞我诈。事实上，这部作品的悲剧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极端，造成乱伦和杀子的悲剧。本文拟从研究《榆树下的欲望》的人物性格，悲剧来源及主人公命运方面，结合相关书籍资料揭示其悲剧形成的原因。分析人类的欲望所造成悲剧性，揭示人性内核，从而进一步批判并反思人类的欲望所造成的人性悲剧，试图呼唤一种现代的理性和秩序。第一章从奥尼尔的所处时代以及个人生活经历阐释他独特的悲剧观。第二章回顾戏剧的主要内容及故事发展。第三章简单阐述戏剧《榆树下的欲望》的创作背景以及奥尼尔的一些悲剧解读,并分析戏剧中凯伯特，伊本，爱比等主要人物形象的性格以及悲剧结局的体现及其必然性。贪婪的欲望会造成人性悲剧。以及奥尼尔戏剧对于古希腊悲剧的借鉴以及学习。最后一部分主要是进行反思，通过主人公悲剧性的命运，批判并反思在金钱占统治地位的社会中欲望的膨胀，从而呼吁一种现代的理性和秩序。关键词：悲剧欲望人性

ContentsTOC\o"1-3"\h\uAbstract=1\*romani摘要=2\*romaniiContents=3\*romaniii-25281Introduction 错误!未定义书签。146952Literaturereview 13Analysisonthisbook14723 2326243.1Thecreationbackground 2251673.2Thereasonsofcharacters'stragedies 3286533.3Theembodimentoftheirtragedies 5265803.4TheconnectionsbetweenO'Neill'splaysandancientGreektragedy 750014

Reflectionofthefatesofthecharacters 826375Conclusion 916278Acknowledgements 1026143References 错误!未定义书签。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