Analysis of hallucinations and fear complex cause for psychological abnormalities of the protagonist Brutus Jones In Eugene O’Neill’s The Emperor Jones

Authors

  • Dr. M. Nallathambi Associate Professor of English, SRM Trichy Arts and Science College, Trichy Author
  • T. Gnanasekaran Assistant Professor of English, VidhyaaGiri College of Arts and Science, Puduvayal, Karaikudi, Tamilnadu, India Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61841/fwy55e69

Keywords:

conflicts, civilization, savagery, psychological states of mind, hallucination, emotional intensity, psychological abnormalities, isolation, humanity, quest for belonging.

Abstract

 In order to explore the fundamental themes of human life itself—the endless conflicts of good and evil, of light and darkness, of civilization and savagery—O’Neill experimented with expressionistic techniques in some of his early plays. In The Emperor Jones, published in 1921, O’Neill makes special use of symbolic scenes and sound effects to portray certain psychological states of mind, hallucinations, and the emotional intensity of his protagonist, Brutus Jones. This study reveals the psychological abnormalities of the protagonist, Brutus Jones The Emperor Jones is arranged in eight scenes, dramatizing the psychological journey of an island in the West Indies to a man acknowledging his guilt, attempting to do away with the evil in himself, and finally accepting his humanity. Central to the process of this journey are Jones’ feelings of isolation and his quest for belonging. The present study explains the scene-wise summary of the psychological abnormalities, struggles, and tragic end of the hero Brutus Jones. 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Alexander, Doris. Eugene O’Neill’s Creative Struggle: The Decisive Decade, 1924-1933. University Park: Penn State University Press, 1992.

2. Alexander, Doris. The Tempering of Eugene O’Neill. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1962.

3. Bogard, Travis, and Jackson R. Brayer. Selected Letters of Eugene O’Neill. Yale University Press: New Haven and London. 1988.

4. Bogard, Travis. Contour in Time: The Plays of Eugene O’Neill. New York: Oxford University Press, 1972.

5. Cargill, Oscar. N. Bryllion Fagin and William J. Fisher. Eds. O’Neill and His Plays. New York: New York University Press. 1961.

6. Chothia, Jean. Forging a Language. A Study of the Plays of Eugene O’Neill. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1979.

7. Clark, Barrett H. Eugene O’Neill: The Man and His Plays. 4th ed., rev. and enl. New York: Dover, 1947.

8. Falk, Doris V. Eugene O’Neill and the Tragic Tension: An Interpretative Study of the Plays. New Brunswick: Rutgers UP, 1958.

9. Flexner, Eleanor. American Playwrights: 1918–1938. The Theatre retreats from reality.

10. Henry, John Raleigh. The plays of Eugene O’Neill. Carbondale, III: Southern Illinois, University Press. 1965.

Downloads

Published

31.08.2019

How to Cite

Analysis of hallucinations and fear complex cause for psychological abnormalities of the protagonist Brutus Jones In Eugene O’Neill’s The Emperor Jones. (2019). International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 23(3), 1090-1094. https://doi.org/10.61841/fwy55e69