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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 a full play summary, a full play analysis, and explanations of important quotes from Desire Under the Elms.
