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Dramatic Irony
Part 1: Scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Simeon, Peter, and Eben:
The characters of Simeon and Peter serve as foils to Eben’s character, representing an alternate path for Eben and juxtaposing his actions with theirs. From the beginning of the play, it is clear that—like Eben—Simeon and Peter also feel trapped by Cabot’s authoritative rule on the farm that has forced them into years of manual labor. All three sons despise Cabot, but they react differently: Simeon and Peter decide to make a new life for themselves by traveling to California, while Eben attempts to take control of the farm for himself and avenge his mother.
The parallel nature of their characters is clear from their first introduction, as they are put into direct comparison. O’Neill describes how Simeon and Peter look similar to Eben but with markedly different traits:
[Simeon and Peter] are tall men, much older than their half-brother [Simeon is thirty-nine and Peter thirty-seven], built on a squarer, simpler model, fleshier in body, more bovine and homelier in face, shrewder and more practical. Their shoulders stoop a bit from years of farm work.
This description establishes these two sons as foils to Eben by juxtaposing their physical traits. Simeon and Peter are older and more square in their appearance, as well as “shrewder” in their face. They have lived longer with Cabot and feel the brunt of the farm labor more heavily than Eben. These physical descriptions indicate the personality differences between the sons that cause Simeon and Peter to choose to leave while Eben stays.
Later on in the first scene, Peter establishes similarities between himself and Eben that form the foundation of their foil relationship:
[Cabot’s] slaved himself t’ death. He’s slaved Sim ‘n’ me ‘n’ yew t’ death—on’y none o’ us hain’t died—yit.
Peter asserts that the brothers have all been overworked by their father. The difference, though, is that none of them have died, “yit,” he says, unlike Eben’s mother, Maw. Eben chooses to stay and face this potential death by passionately fighting against his father, while Simeon and Peter recognize the danger and choose to leave. However, this quote is significant because it establishes the fundamental similarities between Eben and his brother that make them foils. They have a similar background but choose to make two incredibly different decisions that alter the course of their lives.
The differences between the brothers become clear once Simeon and Peter have decided to leave for California:
Simeon—We'll send ye a lump o' gold fur Christmas. (A pause. Eben stares at them and they at him.)
Peter—(awkwardly) Waal—we're a-goin'.
Simeon—Comin' out t' the yard?
Eben—No. I'm waitin' in here a spell. (Another silence. The brothers edge awkwardly to door in rear--then turn and stand.)
Simeon—Waal—good-by.
Peter—Good-by.
Eben— Good-by.
This awkward moment highlights the important differences between them: while they remain family and claim they will send him a lump of gold for Christmas, they do not share a fond goodbye. Their base similarities but opposing decisions make Simeon and Peter foils to Eben's characters. By writing the other brothers as a foil and juxtaposing their actions, O’Neill highlights the gravity of Eben’s choices.
Related Themes:
Part 1: Scene 2
Explanation and Analysis—Simeon, Peter, and Eben:
The characters of Simeon and Peter serve as foils to Eben’s character, representing an alternate path for Eben and juxtaposing his actions with theirs. From the beginning of the play, it is clear that—like Eben—Simeon and Peter also feel trapped by Cabot’s authoritative rule on the farm that has forced them into years of manual labor. All three sons despise Cabot, but they react differently: Simeon and Peter decide to make a new life for themselves by traveling to California, while Eben attempts to take control of the farm for himself and avenge his mother.
The parallel nature of their characters is clear from their first introduction, as they are put into direct comparison. O’Neill describes how Simeon and Peter look similar to Eben but with markedly different traits:
[Simeon and Peter] are tall men, much older than their half-brother [Simeon is thirty-nine and Peter thirty-seven], built on a squarer, simpler model, fleshier in body, more bovine and homelier in face, shrewder and more practical. Their shoulders stoop a bit from years of farm work.
This description establishes these two sons as foils to Eben by juxtaposing their physical traits. Simeon and Peter are older and more square in their appearance, as well as “shrewder” in their face. They have lived longer with Cabot and feel the brunt of the farm labor more heavily than Eben. These physical descriptions indicate the personality differences between the sons that cause Simeon and Peter to choose to leave while Eben stays.
Later on in the first scene, Peter establishes similarities between himself and Eben that form the foundation of their foil relationship:
[Cabot’s] slaved himself t’ death. He’s slaved Sim ‘n’ me ‘n’ yew t’ death—on’y none o’ us hain’t died—yit.
Peter asserts that the brothers have all been overworked by their father. The difference, though, is that none of them have died, “yit,” he says, unlike Eben’s mother, Maw. Eben chooses to stay and face this potential death by passionately fighting against his father, while Simeon and Peter recognize the danger and choose to leave. However, this quote is significant because it establishes the fundamental similarities between Eben and his brother that make them foils. They have a similar background but choose to make two incredibly different decisions that alter the course of their lives.
The differences between the brothers become clear once Simeon and Peter have decided to leave for California:
Simeon—We'll send ye a lump o' gold fur Christmas. (A pause. Eben stares at them and they at him.)
Peter—(awkwardly) Waal—we're a-goin'.
Simeon—Comin' out t' the yard?
Eben—No. I'm waitin' in here a spell. (Another silence. The brothers edge awkwardly to door in rear--then turn and stand.)
Simeon—Waal—good-by.
Peter—Good-by.
Eben— Good-by.
This awkward moment highlights the important differences between them: while they remain family and claim they will send him a lump of gold for Christmas, they do not share a fond goodbye. Their base similarities but opposing decisions make Simeon and Peter foils to Eben's characters. By writing the other brothers as a foil and juxtaposing their actions, O’Neill highlights the gravity of Eben’s choices.
Related Themes:
Part 1: Scene 4
Explanation and Analysis—Simeon, Peter, and Eben:
The characters of Simeon and Peter serve as foils to Eben’s character, representing an alternate path for Eben and juxtaposing his actions with theirs. From the beginning of the play, it is clear that—like Eben—Simeon and Peter also feel trapped by Cabot’s authoritative rule on the farm that has forced them into years of manual labor. All three sons despise Cabot, but they react differently: Simeon and Peter decide to make a new life for themselves by traveling to California, while Eben attempts to take control of the farm for himself and avenge his mother.
The parallel nature of their characters is clear from their first introduction, as they are put into direct comparison. O’Neill describes how Simeon and Peter look similar to Eben but with markedly different traits:
[Simeon and Peter] are tall men, much older than their half-brother [Simeon is thirty-nine and Peter thirty-seven], built on a squarer, simpler model, fleshier in body, more bovine and homelier in face, shrewder and more practical. Their shoulders stoop a bit from years of farm work.
This description establishes these two sons as foils to Eben by juxtaposing their physical traits. Simeon and Peter are older and more square in their appearance, as well as “shrewder” in their face. They have lived longer with Cabot and feel the brunt of the farm labor more heavily than Eben. These physical descriptions indicate the personality differences between the sons that cause Simeon and Peter to choose to leave while Eben stays.
Later on in the first scene, Peter establishes similarities between himself and Eben that form the foundation of their foil relationship:
[Cabot’s] slaved himself t’ death. He’s slaved Sim ‘n’ me ‘n’ yew t’ death—on’y none o’ us hain’t died—yit.
Peter asserts that the brothers have all been overworked by their father. The difference, though, is that none of them have died, “yit,” he says, unlike Eben’s mother, Maw. Eben chooses to stay and face this potential death by passionately fighting against his father, while Simeon and Peter recognize the danger and choose to leave. However, this quote is significant because it establishes the fundamental similarities between Eben and his brother that make them foils. They have a similar background but choose to make two incredibly different decisions that alter the course of their lives.
The differences between the brothers become clear once Simeon and Peter have decided to leave for California:
Simeon—We'll send ye a lump o' gold fur Christmas. (A pause. Eben stares at them and they at him.)
Peter—(awkwardly) Waal—we're a-goin'.
Simeon—Comin' out t' the yard?
Eben—No. I'm waitin' in here a spell. (Another silence. The brothers edge awkwardly to door in rear--then turn and stand.)
Simeon—Waal—good-by.
Peter—Good-by.
Eben— Good-by.
This awkward moment highlights the important differences between them: while they remain family and claim they will send him a lump of gold for Christmas, they do not share a fond goodbye. Their base similarities but opposing decisions make Simeon and Peter foils to Eben's characters. By writing the other brothers as a foil and juxtaposing their actions, O’Neill highlights the gravity of Eben’s choices.
Related Themes:
