1. Present by:- Zala Krutikaba. D
Roll no :- 15
Semester :- 3
2014 - 2015
Paper :- The American Literature
Topic:- Significance or importance
of keeping portraits in “Mourning
Becomes Electra”
Submitted to :- Smt. S.B. Gardi
Department of English
M.K. Bhavnagar University

2. Introduction
“Mourning Becomes Electra” is a play cycle
written by American playwright “ Eugene
O'Neill in 1922.
The story of this play is a retelling of the
Oresteia by Aeschylus of Greek tragedies.
This play is about modern Mannon family and
it s divided into three plays.
This play is connected with “Freudian”
perspective of Psychological theory.

4. Male characters and their status in
society
Ezra
Mannon
World
War
Adam
Brant
Peter
Niles
Orin
Mannon
The great Union
General
Lieutenant in Sea Captain
Infantry
An Artillery Captain

5. History of Mannon family.
• SETH--(pleased) Old nothin'! On'y seventy-five! My old man lived to be
ninety!
• SETH--More speshully he calls to my mind your Grandpaw's brother, David.
How much do you know about David Mannon, Vinnie? I know his name's
never been allowed to be spoke among Mannons since the day he left--but
you've likely heard gossip, ain't you--even if it all happened before you was
born.
• LAVINIA--I've heard that he loved the Canuck nurse girl who was taking care
of Father's little sister who died, and had to marry her because she was
going to have a baby; and that Grandfather put them both out of the house
and then afterwards tore it down and built this one because he wouldn't live
where his brother had disgraced the family. But what has that old scandal
got to do with--
• SETH--Wait. Right after they was throwed out they married and went away.
There was talk they'd gone out West, but no one knew nothin' about 'em
afterwards--'ceptin' your Grandpaw let out to me one time she'd had the
baby--a boy. He was cussin' it. (then impressively) It's about her baby I've
been thinkin', Vinnie.

6. Life of Mannon family
Mannon
Individual National
War of family
Weak relationship
Going far from “Home”
Struggle for love
World war
Duty for the nation
Home coming
Struggle for the nation
End of Mannon family

9. Mask Technique

11. SETH: Ain't you noticed this Brant
reminds you of someone in looks?

12. Conclusion
In the last Orin commits suicide and Lavinia
must live alone in the old house with the
ghosts of her ancestors.
Mask technique is like haunting ghostly
feeling of dead Mannons.
History is alive. Dead are alive.
No one can forget the past, can’t escape from
haunting memory.