Breakfast By: O'Neill Introduction Short Term Paper

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Her personality is opposed to that of her husband; she is a pragmatic whereas he is a dreamer and an artist.

This opposition in terms of personality and lifestyle is what makes their relationship unbearable for both of them. Also, it is this difference in temperament and ways of channeling anger that drives a wedge between the spouses. Mr. Rowland chooses to be quiet and not leave the bedroom whereas Mrs. Rowland confronts and openly attacks him. Mr. Rowland is also isolated and alone; nonetheless, we are told by his wife that he turns to alcohol, friends, and other women to ease his loneliness. His wife rejects his artistic nature and mocks him for it which in turn, makes communication impossible between the spouses.

The isolation of Mr. And Mrs. Rowland is obvious but the audience does not know which of the spouses is responsible for this breach in communication. In fact, finding the responsible party is not O'Neill's concern; that is why, we are not offered many details about the Rowlands. His main concern is to depict the psychological drama of isolation, and the ways in which it affects each spouse. Mrs. Rowland is outspoken and aggressive whereas her husband takes refuge in silence. This is why, perhaps, we are only given details about the wife, and none about the husband.

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They are shown as the average couple, they are not special in any way, and nor is their relationship. Their lack of communication is symbolic of many couples, and this is precisely what O'Neill strives to achieve with his play, i.e. An archetype of marital isolation.

The lack of communication between spouses is a theme that has been tackled by many playwrights including Eugene O'Neill in his play, "Before Breakfast." Isolation is explored from the psychological perspective, as social and personal aspects are not relevant to the development of the play because the conflict is, in the case of both spouses, internal. In this sense, the conflict only takes place within each character as there is no confrontation that could ease the tension between the spouses. In "Before Breakfast," the audience is allowed into the personal universe of a woman who loves, but also despises her husband, who, in turn, feels trapped in the domestic environment with a wife who neither understands nor accepts his nature. The lack of communication is irreparable because the spouses cannot find a common language; moreover, neither the wife nor the husband seems to be able to reach out to the spouse, and truly communicate: Mrs. Rowland is aggressive and condemning while the husband is….....

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