Here, In this presentation you can see how both complex Electra and Oedipus used by Eugene O'Neill in his play.

1. Name:- Hitaxi H Bhatt.
Roll No:- 03.
Semester :- 03.
Paper No:- 10 ( American Literature.)
Topic:- ‘Electra’ and ‘Oedipus’ Complex In
‘Mourning Becomes Electra.’
Submitted To:- Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji
Bhavnagar University.

2.  Continuation of the Greek tradition.
 Rare to find two complexes in one work of art.
 Parallel themes goes together.
 Tragic implication generates emotion of purgation and
gives emotional relief.
 Replacement of the character by modifying their name.

3. Mourning Becomes Electra.
• Lavinia Mannon.
• Christine Mannon.
• Ezra Mannon.
• Orin Mannon.
• Captain Adam Brant.
• Captain Peter Niles.
• American Civil War.
Greek Tragedy ‘ Oresteia’
• Electra.
• Clytemnestra.
• Agamemnon.
• Orestes, Oedipus.
• Aegisthus.
• Pylades
• The Trojan War.

4.  Electra Complex
• The Electra complex is a
psychoanalytic term used
to describe a girl’s sense
of competition with her
mother for the affection of
her father.
Lavinia.
( Daughter)
Ezra.
(Father)

5. Oedipus Complex.
• Oedipus complex is a term
used by Sigmund Freud in his
theory of psychosexual stage
of development to describe a
boy’s feeling of desire for his
father. A boy fills like he is in
competition with his father
for possession of his mother.
Because he has some
attentions and affection
towards his mother.
Orin.
(son)
Christine.
(Mother)

6. Psychoanalysis of the play.
• Talk about extra marital
affair.
• Lavinia- Ezra.
Orin- Christine.
Christine- Brant.
• Freudian start that sex is the
base of human emotions.
• free flowing ‘Libido’ in the
play.

7. • The son feels obliged to love
only one woman that is his
mother.(Oedipus complex)
• The daughter is in love with
her father ( Electra complex)
• Freudian tradition love
begins with innocent
and then get
transformed into carnal
emotion with physical
characteristic.

8. • Sexual desire can not find expression outside the concrete wall of
Mannon house.
• The sea in Freudian terms suggest collective unconsciousness.
• In the end all main characters have Lacanian death. They goes under the
physical and emotional . Destiny also play a vital role in the play.
• Ezra Mannon( poison) and Adam Brant (shot dead) are murdered.
• Orin and Christine committed suicide.
• Lavinia opts for slow suicide by entombing herself within the
mansion.

9. Thank you.

10. Bibliography.
• http://sparknote.com /drama/ mourning/
summary/.html
• Gutenberg.net.au/ebooks/04/0400141h.html