Mourning Becomes Electra

Mourning Becomes Electra is a play written by American playwright Eugene O’Neill. The characters are parallel characters from the ancient Greek play. This play easily can be read from Freudian perspective, and we also see Oedipus complexes and Electra.

The looks are similar so one character crave for his or her opposite sex for example Lavinia and Christine wants Ezra, Orin and Adam and it same opposite also. Christine has affair with Adam Brand but there is ambiguity as whether Adam really loves her or just wants to take revenge of previous things. All actions depend upon previous act and that leads play. All character are individually right but they are inter depend so one effects to other and circumstances make them to act.

It is divided into three plays:

1)      Homecoming

2)      The Hunted

3)      The Haunted

1.      Homecoming

As title suggest something is coming to home. Ezra Mannon, who is an army man coming to home with the hope of rest, relax or happiness but he found things are changed. Army service becomes good than home. He realizes that his wife and daughter has affair with someone else. He didn’t try to look deep. He thinks that now he has no clue to live. He fainted and suddenly dies. His death is ambiguous, whether Christine gave poison instead of medicine or Lavinia exchange it. After taking medicine Lavinia realize her treachery and calls out for help. Ezra indicts his wife “she’s guilty not medicine!” Her strength gone, Christine collapse in a faint and Lavinia falls to her knees in anguish.

2.      The Hunted

Peter and Orin arrive at the house. Orin disappointedly complains of his mother’s absence. He jealously so he asks Lavinia about his mother’s affair. Lavinia warns him against believing Christine’s lie that she has no relation with Adam Brant.

Orin asks his mother about Brant. Christine says Lavinia has gone mad and there is nothing like     that. Orin wants his mother’s attention so he killed Adam Brant. Christine was unhappy with that so she suicide. Lavina spoke “It is justice!”

3.      The Haunted

In the third part Lavinia and Orin remain. Orin upset about his mother’s death. Before he shut himself gave letter to his girlfriend about these all. Peter proposes Lavinia but she reject and says I want to give punishment to myself so she lives as dead.