Effects of Heredity and Environment in Eugene O’Neill’s Beyond the Horizon

Abstract

This research makes a naturalist study of O Neill's playBeyond the Horizonwith reference to its exploitation of nature, symbol, setting and characters. It is a naturalist play where two major characters, Robert Mayo and Andrew Mayo are influenced by the effects of heredity and environment. The instinctual quality which is transferred by ancestors or parents plays a great role to determine the life of offspring. Robert and Andrew Mayo do great labour to get success in their occupation but that ends as meaningless due to the instinctual effect. O'Neill opines that naturalist plays are traditional which relate to the tragic elements: alienation, death, violence and suicide. The play also displays the truth which comes out from experience related in observation and experiment. Most of the naturalist writings are concerned to instinctual and accurate depiction of life and show the reality of the world.