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Overview
Desire Under the Elms, Eugene O’Neill’s 1924 play, is the story of a farming family in mid-1800s New England
. Inspired by the play Hippolytus by Euripides, it tells of the warring personalities of a father and son, and how their mutual dislike is brought to a head by the powerful presence of the father’s new wife. The play paints a melancholy portrait of rural life in the 19th century and explores people's desire for connection with each other and their deep relationship with the landscape around them.Read the full play summary, the full play analysis, and explanations of important quotes from Desire Under the Elms.
