ISSN:
2181-3906
2025
International scientific journal
«MODERN SCIENCE АND RESEARCH»
VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 2 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ
213
INTERTEXTUALITY IN THE WORKS OF EUGENE O'NEILL
Rakhimova Mehriniso
2nd year master's student at Asia International University.
mrakhimova2@mail.ru
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14833359
Abstract.
This article delves into Eugene O'Neill's use of intertextuality in his plays,
examining how he weaves together themes from mythology, literature, religion, and
psychoanalysis. It explores key works by O'Neill, including Long Day's Journey into Night (1956),
The Iceman Cometh (1930), and The Mourning Becomes Electra (1921), analyzing the central
themes of suffering, fate, family secrets, and psychological trauma. Through intertextual
references to classical mythology, Shakespearean tragedies, and Freudian psychology, O'Neill
creates deeply layered works that engage with universal human experiences. The article highlights
how O'Neill’s exploration of these themes contributes to his dramatic legacy and provides insights
into the psychological depth of his characters.
Key words:
Intertextuality, Mythology, Literature, Psychoanalysis, Long Day's Journey
into Night, The Iceman Comet, The Mourning Becomes Electra, Family trauma, Suffering, Fate.
ИНТЕРТЕКСТУАЛЬНОСТЬ В ПРОИЗВЕДЕНИЯХ ЮДЖИНА О'НИЛА
Аннотация.
В этой статье подробно рассматривается использование Юджином
О'Нилом интертекстуальности в его пьесах, рассматривается, как он сплетает воедино
темы из мифологии, литературы, религии и психоанализа. В ней рассматриваются
ключевые работы О'Нила, включая «Долгий день уходит в ночь» (1956), «Продавец льда
грядет» (1930) и «Траур становится Электрой» (1921), анализируются центральные
темы страдания, судьбы, семейных тайн и психологической травмы. С помощью
интертекстуальных ссылок на классическую мифологию, трагедии Шекспира и
фрейдистскую психологию О'Нил создает глубоко многослойные произведения, которые
затрагивают общечеловеческий опыт. В статье подчеркивается, как исследование
О'Нилом этих тем вносит вклад в его драматическое наследие и позволяет глубже понять
психологическую глубину его персонажей.
Ключевые слова:
Интертекстуальность, Мифология, Литература, Психоанализ,
Долгий день уходит в ночь, Комета-ледяной человек, Траур становится Электрой,
Семейная травма, Страдание, Судьба.
ISSN:
2181-3906
2025
International scientific journal
«MODERN SCIENCE АND RESEARCH»
VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 2 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ
214
Intertextuality in the Works of Eugene O'Neill. Eugene O'Neill (1888–1953) was a
prominent playwright whose works delve deeply into issues of human existence, internal conflict,
and despair. One of the key aspects of his work is the use of intertextuality—his interactions with
various literary, mythological, and philosophical traditions. O'Neill draws upon motifs from world
literature, mythology, religion, and psychoanalysis, creating multilayered plays rich with symbolic
references.
This article analyzes several of O'Neill's works from the perspective of intertextuality,
examining their content, main themes, and key references. It also provides quotes from the plays
to support the conclusions about the role of intertextuality in his work.
Analysis of Selected Works by O'Neill. To explore Eugene O'Neill's works more deeply
and understand their importance in the context of his dramatic legacy, we will focus on three major
plays:
Long Day's Journey into Night
(1956),
The Iceman Cometh
(1930), and
The Mourning
Becomes Electra
(1921). These works provide valuable insight into O'Neill's creative genius, his
approaches to dramaturgy, and his exploration of psychoanalysis.
1. Long Day's Journey into Night (1956).
Long Day's Journey into Night
is one of O'Neill's
most famous and significant plays, written during the later period of his career. It is a family
tragedy centered around the complex relationships within the Tyrone family. The main characters
are an aging alcoholic, his wife, and their two sons, each of whom struggles with the consequences
of the family's past.
1.1. Key Themes of the Play.
Long Day's Journey into Night
addresses crucial themes such
as suffering, guilt, death, and redemption. O'Neill shows how the family's past strongly influences
their present. The central idea of the play is the weight of inherited trauma and the impossibility
of escaping it, which ultimately proves fatal for the characters.
Alcoholism and the Destruction of Personality: The father, James Tyrone, suffers from
alcoholism, which destroys his personality and relationships with his family. His life becomes a
repetitive cycle of mistakes, leading to various tragedies. He feels guilty for failing to provide for
his family and for not saving his wife and children from their destructive paths.
Family Secrets and Lies: Each family member hides dark secrets. The mother, Mary,
conceals her morphine addiction, while the sons live in a world of illusions, trying to escape fear
and pain. Lies and self-deception serve as protective reactions to a reality that is unbearable for
each of them.
ISSN:
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2025
International scientific journal
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VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 2 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ
215
Fatalism and the Inevitability of Fate: O'Neill explores fate as an inexorable force that leads
the characters toward their tragic ends. The Tyrone family, like Sisyphus, is doomed to repeat their
mistakes despite each character's attempt to change something.
1.2. Characters and Their Psychology
James Tyrone: The central character of the play, James Tyrone is an aging alcoholic whose
personal tragedy results from long-term addiction and emotional emptiness. He represents the
archetype of the "fallen father," unable to regain love and respect despite his efforts. His struggles
with alcoholism and guilt for destroying his family make him a tragic figure.
Mary Tyrone: James’s wife, Mary, suffers from a morphine addiction that she conceals
from others. Mary lives in a world of memories, using her addiction as a way to escape the pain of
her marriage and reality.
The Sons, Eddie and James Jr.: Both sons suffer deep emotional wounds due to their
relationships with their parents. Eddie, the older son, yearns to break free from the family legacy
of pain and fear, while James Jr. struggles with alcoholism, attempting to cope with the inherited
issues.
1.3. Intertextual References
The Myth of Sisyphus:
O'Neill structures the play around the myth of Sisyphus, who is
condemned to push a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down. Despite the characters’
attempts to change their fates, they find themselves in the same position. This myth serves as a
symbol of the futility of their struggle.
Shakespearean Motifs: The play also echoes themes from Shakespearean tragedies, such
as
Macbeth
and
Hamlet
, where characters are tormented by internal conflicts related to guilt,
destruction, and death.
1.4. Philosophy and Psychoanalysis
The psychoanalytic theme in the play is evident: the characters cannot free themselves from
their unconscious desires and fears. James Tyrone is trapped by his past, with guilt and depression
deeply rooted in his subconscious. Similarly, Mary Tyrone avoids reality by creating a "parallel
world" through her drug addiction, in which she can experience happiness.
2. The Mourning Becomes Electra (1921)
The Mourning Becomes Electra
is one of O'Neill’s early plays, written during his creative
development. It is a psychological drama focused on the process of mourning and emotional
transformation after a loss.
ISSN:
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VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 2 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ
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2.1. Key Themes of the Play
The play explores grief, loss, and emotional transformation. The central conflict involves
not only the death of a son but also the characters’ search for meaning in life following the loss.
The plot revolves around this single event, with its consequences affecting the entire family.
Grief and Loneliness: The son’s death becomes the catalyst for the personal transformation
of the characters. This tragedy is a complex process that destroys the relational dynamics within
the family. O'Neill examines how individual grief permeates collective life.
Existential Crisis: The play presents a deep philosophical reflection on life and death.
O'Neill grapples with fundamental existential questions: What gives life meaning when death
disrupts its course so unexpectedly?
2.2. Characters and Their Psychology
The characters of
The Mourning Becomes Electra
are immersed in an existential crisis. Their
emotional emptiness and despair permeate the atmosphere of the play. The mother, father, and
older sister try to cope with the loss, but a vacuum has formed in their lives that cannot be filled.
2.3. Intertextual References
Mythological and Biblical References: The death of the son references biblical and
mythological stories of sacrifice, where death serves as a necessary part of redemption. This motif
can be traced in various cultural texts and myths.
2.4. Philosophy and Psychoanalysis
The psychological aspect of the play can be understood through a Freudian lens, where grief
and loss trigger deep unconscious processes that disturb the stability of the characters’ personalities
and relationships.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, Eugene O'Neill’s plays utilize intertextuality to deepen the exploration of
universal themes of suffering, family trauma, and psychological conflict. Through references to
mythology, literature, and psychoanalysis, O'Neill creates intricate and emotionally charged
narratives. His works engage deeply with the human experience, allowing for a rich analysis of
the complexity of human nature and relationships. O'Neill’s plays continue to stand as important
milestones in the development of modern drama.
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