Effects of Heredity and Environment in Eugene O’Neill’s Beyond the Horizon
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of English
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.