Desire Under the Elms: A Play by Eugene O’Neil

Desire Under the Elms is the last of O’Neil’s naturalistic plays written in three parts with
each part in split into four scenes. This play was first produced at the Greenwich Village
Theatre, November 11th, 1924 (Young). This play is based off Euripides' Hippolytus, and Jean
Racine's Phèdre. Two plays in which a father who returns home with a new wife in which the
son falls in love with (Britannica). This play has been described as “a fine process of solidity
and finish, it is better written throughout; it has as much tragic gloom and irony but a more
mature conception and a more imaginative austerity” (Young).

Characters:
 Ephraim Cabot
 Simeon
 Peter
 Eben
 Abbie Putnam
 Young girl and neighboring town folk.

Plot Summary:

Part One
Set in New England of 1850, all action of the play takes place either inside of outside of the
Cabot Farmhouse.

Scene One
The play starts as Simeon and Peter come in from a hard day’s work. As they come in, they talk
about moving to California to strike gold, and become rich.

Scene Two
Eben, Peter and Simeon are all at the table eating supper, discussing the health of their father.
Eben believes that because he is the youngest son, and that his mother was last married to Cabot,
he is the rightful owner of the farm. Eben’s mother died when he was 15, which left him to do
all his mothers work. After supper, Eben gets up to leave into town to see Minnie, a prostitute,
while his brothers tease him.

Scene Three
Simeon and Peter are in their room asleep; Eben bursts in, and says that he heard news that their
father has just married a 35 year old woman. Seeing it as their father’s way of keeping them
from inheriting the farm, Simeon and Peter once again bring up the idea of leaving to California
again.
Scene Four
It is the next day. Simeon and Peter leave the house to start work, but stop and change their
minds since their father has remarried. Eben, angry because they won’t do work, and in a fit of
possession leaves the house to milk the cows and do their work for them. After a moment,
Simeon and Peter decide to join him. Before they leave, Eben returns saying he’s spotted their
father coming down the road with his new bride. They hide in the bushes to see his new bride,
and after they pull up, Simeon and Peter come out of the bushes, tell their father they’re leaving
for California and throw rocks thru his new bride’s bedroom window. Later, with Cabot out of
the picture, Eben meets Abbie, and she instantly uses a seductive tone, saying she doesn’t want to
be his mother, but his friend. After a slight moment of hypnosis, Eben snaps at her and says that
the farm belongs to him. Abbie disagrees and playfully taunts him. Cabot returns, cursing his
two sons, and then insults Eben.

Part Two
Scene One
Ext. of the Farmhouse on a hot Sunday afternoon. Two months later.

Eben and Abbie start off the scene. Eben is attracted to Abbie, but tries to deny it to himself. The
conversation leads to a quarrel of who owns the farm. In anger, Eben starts his way into town
(His original intentions). Cabot, from hearing the argument comes onto the porch, asking what
happened. Abbie changes the subject. Cabot begins to talk of his old age, and that one day he
will die. Abbie, intrigued by getting possession of the farm ask Cabot if he'll leave the farm to
her. She is surprised that he won't. But yet, he doesn’t want to leave the farm to Eben either. He
would rather burn it to the ground his dieing day. Cabot says there is no man to take care of the
farm after he dies. Abbie, changing her approach, suggest that she bear him a son. She says that
she's been praying for one. Joyously, Cabot thinks this is a great idea and prays for her right on
the front porch. Abbie sneers in her victory.

Scene Two
Bedroom, 8:00 PM

Cabot and Abbie are in their room. Cabot explains his trials and tribulations with the farm- how
he made if from something into nothing. He is still excited about the idea of a son. Meanwhile,
Abbie's mind is directed toward Eben. Eben, in the opposite room stares at Abbie thru the wall.
After Cabot's talk, he leaves to sleep in the barn- the house is too cold and lonesome for him.
After he leaves, Abbie goes over to Eben's room and passionately embraces and kisses him. After
a moment of submission, Eben throws her off him. He accuses her of plan to steal the farm.
Tempting him, Abbie says that the farm will soon be hers.
Scene Three
The Parlor, a few mintues later. Candles lit.

Abbie sits at a sofa. Eben soon enters and takes a seat by her. Abbie mentions she feels a spirit.
Eben is positive it is his mother. Abbie says that the spirit is kind to her, when Eben things the
spirit should hate her. Eben starts to speak of his mother. Abbie in a motherly, yet lustfully puts
her arms around him. The passion escalates and Abbie tells Eben that she'll be his mother and
lover. Eben feels as if his mother's spirit wants him to sleep with her to avenge his father callous
treatment, and for stealing the farm.

Scene Four
Outside the farmhouse, dawn.

Eben emerges from the house a changed man- he is bright and cheerful. Abbie pokes her head
out of the window for one last kiss, and then the two lovers have a flirtatious conversation over
who has more kisses. Eben leaves Abbie and heads to the barn to start work. He meets his father
and continues his bright mood. His father, curious why he's acting so differently, asks what's
gotten into him. Eben explains that he feels that his mother can now rest in peace. As he leaves to
do his work, his father sneers, saying there is no hope for him.

Part Three
Scene One
Night. Spring of the following year.

There is a celebration- the birth of Abbie's son. There are townsfolk gathered around, celebrating,
but mostly cracking jokes. They know the baby is not Cabot's. Cabot, drunk on whiskey
encourages everyone to enjoy themselves. The townsfolk continue to make remarks. The fiddler
beings to play and people dance. Cabot breaks the dancing up to show everyone how it's done,
and does an impressive job. Exhausted from dancing, he leaves for the barn to cool off. Abbie
ascends the stairs, to check on the baby, where she sees Eben hovering over their child. They kiss
passionately.

Scene Two
Exterior. Half hour later.

Eben is standing by the gate, when Cabot in high spirits. He questions why he isn’t at the dance.
Eben expresses his disinterest, and replies that he has the farm anyway. Cabot, amused by this
tells him of something Abbie said earlier...how she would have a son with him, to steal the farm
away from him. This enrages Eben, and a fight breaks out. Cabot, still strong, pins Eben by
choking him. Abbie appears in time to break the fight up. Cabot goes into the house, and Abbie
and Eben stay on the porch. Eben internally hurt is now angry at Abbie. She tries her best to
explain that this was before they both loved each other. Eben still hurt gets up, says he's going to
leave in the morning to join his brothers, get rich in California, and come back an take what's
rightfully his...and kick everyone else of the farm. Abbie tries to make him understand but
cannot.

Scene Three
Just before dawn.

Eben is in the kitchen with his carpet bag, ready to leave. Abbie comes down stairs and explains
she has made things better between them. This intrigues Eben to ask her why. She said she killed
the baby. Instead of making things better, this enrages Eben. Abbie tries to tell him that
everything is ok, and that she still truly loves him. Eben leaves to get the Sheriff, swearing that
she will pay. Abbie on the front porch again tells him she loves him, and faints to the floor.

Scene Four
Kitchen, an hour later.

Cabot wakes, and speaks to Abbie as if she is in bed beside him. When he realizes she isn’t, he
quickly dresses and heads downstairs. When he sees Abbie, he tells her to mind the baby. Abbie
says she's killed it, and that it was Eben's baby, and not his, and the she love Eben. Making the
connections at the party, everything becomes clear to Cabot. He starts for the Sheriff, but Abbie
explain Eben has already left. Cabot leaves for work. Eben returns in a whirlwind of emotion. He
is heartbroken, but his love for Abbie has returned. He tells her he wants to go to jail with her, to
die with her. He tells her he's going to tell the sheriff that the two of them planned it. Abbie
protests. Cabot returns, and finds the two on the floor embracing. In disgust he says he's ready to
head out...to join his two sons in California. He said he turned the live stock into the woods and
was ready to take a match to the house and barn. The Sheriff arrives and walks in. After a brief
moment, the sheriff escorts the two of them out of the house...and as he does so, the Sheriff
compliments the farm and says, "Wished I owned it!"

Themes
Possession and Greed (Eben and the Farm)
True Love (Eben and Abbie)
Competition (Eben and Abbie) (Eben and Cabot) (Eben and his brothers)
O’Neil’s style of women.
Works Cited
"Desire Under The Elms." Encyclopedia Britannica. 1997. 3 Nov 2006
<http://www.britannica.com/nobel/micro/733_22.html>.

Young, Stark. "Desire Under the Elms: Eugene O'Neill's Latest Play." New York Times (1924):