"Desire Under the Elms" is a play by Eugene O'Neill, first performed in 1924. The story is set in New England in the mid-19th century and centers around the family of Ephraim Cabot, a widower who owns a farm.
The play explores themes such as desire, greed, and the struggle for power, as Ephraim's three adult sons compete for their father's attention and inheritance. The tension between the sons is further complicated by the arrival of a young woman named Abbie Putnam, who marries Ephraim and becomes romantically involved with his youngest son, Eben.
As the story unfolds, the characters' desires and ambitions clash, leading to a tragic and violent climax. O'Neill's writing style is characterized by its poetic language and its focus on the psychological depth and complexity of his characters.
Overall, "Desire Under the Elms" is a powerful and thought-provoking play that offers a searing commentary on the human condition. It is a masterful exploration of the themes of desire, betrayal, and the destructive nature of greed, and remains a classic of American theater.
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