This study analyzes Eugene O'Neill's "Mourning Becomes Electra" as a critique of capitalist ideology in early twentieth-century America. The study argues that the tragedy of the Mannon family reflects the material and ideological contradictions produced by American capitalism. Most interpretations of the play have seen the story as a psychological drama, a retelling of Greek tragedy, or a family tragedy. Such readings do not fully explain the economic and social conditions that create the moral dilemmas faced by the characters. Three questions guide this study: How does Mourning Becomes Electra show the way capitalist economic structures shape and distort human relationships? In what ways does the Mannon family's tragedy reflect the contradictions of bourgeois society? Why does the play suggest that the American Dream is a destructive illusion? The study uses Neo-Marxist theory as its framework. The main theorists used are Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, and Karl Marx. Gramsci shows that the ruling class maintains power through culture and ideas, not just force (Gramsci 12). Althusser explains how institutions like the family and religion shape people's thinking (Althusser 85). Marx shows how economic conditions determine consciousness (Marx 48). The analysis of the play reveals that the Mannon family's pursuit of wealth and status leads to their destruction. The Civil War represents a class conflict between the old aristocracy and the new capitalism. Lavinia's breakdown and Orin's suicide show the psychological cost of bourgeois ideology. The conclusion is that O'Neill portrays American capitalism as a system that destroys individuals from the inside, leaving only guilt, shame, and the impossibility of authentic human connection.
- Quote paper
- Nirmal Gurung (Author), 2026, The Price of the American Dream. A Neo-Marxist Reading of Eugene O'Neill's "Mourning Becomes Electra", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1745606
