In the 1920's, the theater was considered the scene of a "
'curious conflict' between realism and a freer form of
theatricality". (MacGowen, viii) There were many famous playwrights
of the era. Among these were Thornton Wilder and, probably the most
prominent playwright, Eugene O'Neill. These two authors used many of
the same themes in their writing; romanticism was a popular one.
However, they each also used themes and styles of writing that set
them apart from other writers.
The values that were promoted in the works of Thornton Wilder
included those of Christian morality, the community, the family, and
the "appreciation of everyday pleasures". ("Wilder", Discovering
Authors) Wilder was more of a realist than a romantic, though in
his writings "emotions run deeper than wild", a romantic quality.
(Grebanier, 5) His plays were meant to bring fresh life and meaning
to the "terms of the spiritual life". (Burbank, 21) Some other themes
include faith, love, humility, sacrafice, and the role and
responsibility of the artist in society. (Burbank, 22)
Eugene O'Neill's plays consistently examine the "implacability of an
indifferent universe, the materialistic greed of humanity, and the
problems of discovering one's true identity". ("O'Neill",
Discovering Authors) Many of his plays contain profound
insights into man's inner nature, his drive to attain wealth and
power. ("O'Neill", Multimedia Encyclopedia) His early plays suggest
the beauty and impossibility of the romantic dream to which all of
the characters remain true. (Carpenter, 65) Later plays turned from
the always beautiful dream to the always ugly reality. (Carpenter,
67) O'Neill was unique in the many different techniques he used.
These included interior monologue, stream of consciousness dialogue,
the aside, symbolic masks, the chorus, thematic repetition,
mythological motiffs, and frank unrealism. ("O'Neill", Discovering
Authors)
During the 1920's, the theater was very popular. Many playwrights
emerged from the decade more famous than what they entered. Two of
these playwrights were Eugene O'Neill and Thornton Wilder. O'Neill
wrote many of the famous plays of the 1920's. He later won the Nobel
Prize for literature in 1936, the only American to do so.
("O'Neill", Discovering Authors) Wilder also wrote many plays
during the "roaring twenties". He distinguished himself from his
contemporaries with his religious humanism, stylisitc virtuosity, and
technical versatility. (Burbank, 27)
WORKS CITED
Burbank, Rex J. Thornton Wilder. second edition, Boston:
Twayne Publishers, A division of G.K. Hall & Co., 1978.
Carpenter, Frederick I. Eugene O'Neill. Boston: Twayne
Publishers, A division of G.K. Hall & Co., 1979.
Grebanier, Bernard. Thornton Wilder. Minneapolis: University
of Minnesota Press, 1964.
MacGowan, Kenneth. Famous American Plays of the 1920's. New
York: The Fireside Theater, 1959.
"O'Neill, Eugene". Discovering Authors. Gale Reasearch Inc.,
1993