Desire Under the Elms Symbols

Elm Trees

In the play, the two elm trees symbolize Maw’s and Abbie’s oppressive and/or powerful maternal energy, which often goes unseen but nevertheless has a strong influence on the male characters.

Eben’s mother…

Stones

In the play, stones have two layers of symbolic significance. On the surface, they represent the hardships of farm labor in 19th-century America. The Cabot family’s New England farmland is unforgivingly rocky, and they spend…