DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS

Desire Under The Elms (DUTE) is the first O’Neill’s work with a Greece tragedy style. Desire Under The Elms (DUTE) narrated about Ephraim Cabot family which aged 75 years. He had three adult sons. Simeon and Peter were the sons of his first wedding, meanwhile, Eben from the second. Yet, both of his wives had died, so, he just lived with his three sons. Cabot’s family was less harmonist since a dispute often happened in this family because Cabot educated his sons tightly enough. Because of disenjoyable condition of the family, Cabot decided to leave his home for two months in order to look for commandment of God like it was done by the messenger. At the same time, during Cabot’s going, his sons thought and considered that he had died because of leaving home for a long time without any news. So, they wanted to take over their father riches and properties such as his houses and fields. They also prayed may their father would rest in peace as soon as possible. Peter and Simeon arranged to go to California, because there was a lot of gold in there, based on their opinion. They wanted to be a golden mine since they were bored of living with their father and cultivating the field. However, Eben intended to stay at home until his father died. So, after dying, all of the riches would be belong to him. Both of Eben’s brothers did not care about Eben’s attitude toward this. They thought that by keeping staying at home, he would be a  farmer forever.

Actually, Simeon and Peter did not have enough money to go to California. Yet, Eben convinced that he would take his father saving, so they could go to California. Before fulfilling the intention to steal his father savings, suddenly, Cabot came from his wandering by bringing a young beautiful wife, her name was Abbie Putnam.  Cabot’s sons’ hatred to their father became more increased. Knowing those facts, Simeon and Peter felt discomfort and wanted to leave their home as soon as possible. However, Eben still on his commitment to stay at home until his father die because he would get the wealth as it was his mother inheritance. Abbie’s presence in Cabot’s family caused a hatred arise in the Eben’s heart. He felt his step mother presence would hamper his will to take over all of the riches. Eben only wanted to have the house and the field together with its substance as it was his mother inheritance. Meanwhile, Abbie ,which intended to have all of her husband riches in the first time, had felt in love with her step son Eben in which still young and handsome which is able to satisfy her desires in which she could not get all of these from his old husband. Knowing that Eben was so adore his mother, Abbie tried to act calmly and paid more attention in order to get Eben’s sympathy.  She tried to be able to make a love with Eben because she never got spiritual satisfaction from his husband. His step mother behavior made Eben thought that his step mother was crazy. Eben was so angry and finally a dispute happened, Eben stated that his step mother was obvious anymore. During the dispute, suddenly Cabot came and reconciled Abbie and Eben by asking what really happened. Eben ignored his father asking, then he walked away to leave his father and mother in the kitchen and did not care about Abbie’s statement that forced Eben into a corner. According to Abbie’s accusation, Eben pursued to make a love with her. Certainly, it made Cabot angry and intended to kill Eben. Yet, Abbie avoided him.

While Cabot talking about his farming that would be handling by Eben, then, Abbie promised to Cabot that she would give a child to him. Firstly, Cabot thought that he could not give an offspring because of the age, but Abbie convinced that she had prayed to God in order to be able to give a child to Cabot. Cabot asked Abbie to keep on praying in order to be able to realize his willingness. Later on, because Cabot thought could find a peace in the other place, he went to talk with his cows and it made him happy.  While Abbie and Eben were having a meal in dining room, Abbie tried to pursue Eben in order to fulfill her desires. Finally, Eben could not control himself and tricked into his mother persuasion. Later on, they went to Eben’s room together. A year later, a child that had been expected by Cabot for a long time born. A big party accompanied the born of the baby. All of Cabot neighbor which were invited to the party felt suspicious because of the origin of the baby. They did not believe if Cabot could give a health and normal child. Eben did not join the party because he knew that the child was from his sins with Abbie. During the party, a dispute between Cabot and Eben arose, Cabot accused Eben that he would snatch Abbie away from him. Cabot also talked that Abbie ever said that Eben wanted to make a love with her. Listening to the defamation, Ebben felt so angry and promised to kill Abbie. However, Cabot avoided and tried to stop it. Then, Abbie came to arbitrate them, but Cabot left them and joined to the party and forgot that dispute.  Eben and Abbie had a dispute and insulted each other. Eben accused Abbie had tricked him to get all of his father riches, moreover with the presence of the baby; it will ease Abbie in getting all the wealth. Abbie tried to explain what exactly happened, but Eben did not have any desires listening to Abbie’s explanation. Later on, Eben hated her because of the presence of the baby. Abbie would have done everything to convince Eben that she really loved him more than everything.

In a morning, Abbie had done a crazy acting. She had killed his child while sleeping. This was done to prove that there would not be an obstacle anymore between them to love each other. Knowing the fact, Eben was so upset because the child was his son. Afterwards, he called sheriff to imprison Abbie. Meanwhile, Cabot regarded that the child was sleeping, he tried to wake him up, but he did not get up. Finally, Cabot asked Abbie to wake him up. Abbie told Cabot that the child had died. Abbie also told that the child was not Cabot’s child but he was belong to Eben. Sooner, Eben came and followed by the sheriff.  After the case, Eben was aware that Abbie did those acting because of love. So did Eben, he actually loved Abbie and did not want to lose Abbie. Later on, Eben asked the sheriff imprison him as well since he also involved in this case. Since Cabot faces a shocking event, he decided to go to California. He only thought to bring his savings to be provision during his way to California and leaved all of the wealth and fields. Unfortunately, all of his saving had gone. He knew that Eben had spent it. Finally, Eben admitted that he had spent all of the savings and gave it to his brother as  a cost to go to California. Cabot just contemplated his tragic destiny. Later, he asked the sheriff bring Abbie and Eben to go out of his building.