Modern Man’s Inability to Reconcile with God in O’Neill’s Dynamo

Abstract

This research work on Eugene O’Neill’s play Dynamo examines the modern man’s inability to reconcile with either traditional concept of God or scientific invention, which he tries to live with as a new option. This inability is manifested through the play’s major character, Reuben’s inability to reconcile with the existence of old God greatly revered by his parents and his new electrical God – modern scientific technology. In the play, Reuben is faced with challenge as to accept father’s fanatical belief on Christianity because of his attraction to modern scientific development, which he later makes a means to live with. But this does not work as well. As a result, out of desperate helplessness he kills himself throwing himself on the moving dynamo.