Analysis of “Before Breakfast” by Eugene O’Neill

Analysis of “Before Breakfast” by Eugene O’Neill The husband, Alfred, is intentionally kept off stage because Eugene O’Neill wanted the Plot, Action, and Conflict in “Before Breakfast” to revolve around Mrs. Rowland. The plot is not intended to show the life story of the Rowland’s. But instead, the plot brings out powerful and greatly focused opposition and conflict which Mrs. Rowland is faced with. I think that O’Neill wanted to bring about disturbing emotions of pity and horror. We experience pity for Mrs. Rowland when the author wrights “What is she going to do—have the child—or go to one of those doctors?” And the horror is at the end when the author writes “Did you cut yourself again? ... Alfred! Alfred! Answer me! What is it you knocked over? Are you still drunk? ... Alfred!” We know with out seeing Alfred that he has cut his

Rowland screams then runs to the other door opens it in a rush and runs frantically into the hallway, this is the end of the play. The denouement in "Before Breakfast" takes place after the catastrophe, with Mrs. Alfred makes moaning and grunting sounds form the bedroom but never speaks a word in self defense. The main character or the protagonist has all the human characteristics because she is in front of the audiences and the audiences can use there sense of sight to under stand the she is a human being. The human being characteristics of Alfred adds to the horror and dismay that the audiences experiences in the final scene. We never get to hear Alfred"tms side of the story. The catastrophe or climax of the play is the apparent suicide of Mr. The setting affects the reader"tms understanding that the Rowland"tms are living in poverty also the descriptions of the Rowland apartment adds our understanding that Mrs. We all know from our own experiences that there is always and perpetually two sides to every story. The denouement is the resolution of the plot in a literary work (1228). throat; this changes the scene form one of gore and blood to one of horror and dismay. Rowland point of view O"tmNeill was able to focus the audience"tms feelings of pity and fear in the direction of Mrs. The audience learns of Alfred form comments made by his wife.