Expressionism in Miler and O'Neil works

1. Presented By M.Tayyab
From Ripha International University
Faisalabad.

2. Topic
Expressionism
in Arthur Miller
and
Eugene O’Neill’s
works
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3. Background of Expressionism
Expressionism term is derived from Croce’s
aesthetic theory of art and flourished in
Europe between 1914 to 1924.
This term was first used by French painter,
Harve in 1901.
Expressionism was applied to literature by
Hermann Bahr in 1914.
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4. Definition of Expressionism
 Expressionism is a depiction of subjective
feelings and emotions rather than to
depict reality and nature objectively.
 Expressionism is a subjective style, and
reality is interpreted through the
emotions of characters.
 Expressionism was a revolt against
naturalism, realism, materialism and
urbanization.

5. Expressionism in Arthur Miller ’s works
Arthur Miller was a prominent figure in
twentieth century American theatre.
Mr. Miller recently passed away at the age of
89 on February 11,2005.
Miller used expressionism to show the inner
working of human psyche.
Miller dives into the psyche not floats of his
surface.
Death of a Salesman is a development of
expressionism in an interesting way.
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6. Expressionism in Arthur Miller ’s works
In this play Miller has been attracted to the
German socio-expressionists after First World
War.
The expressionistic element of this play
consciously used by Miller.
First expressionistic element to start with is
the title of the play.
Arthur Miller said that his first title for ‘Death
of a Salesman’ was ‘ The Inside of His Head’.
The first title showed that Miller presented his
creativity through Willy Loman ‘s mind.
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7. Expressionism in Arthur Miller ’s works
In expressionism, the emphasis is not on the
development of the plot itself, but on the
essential experiences of individuals.
Second expressionistic element The structure of
the plot, of Death of a Salesman, follows an
aesthetic rather than a logical mode of
development.
Events and incidents are unfolded in a way that
resembles the stream of consciousness
technique.
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8. Expressionism in Arthur Miller ’s works
In expressionism time and space did not exist.
Third point is that, in Death of a Salesman, Miller
employs a disjointed time structure, in which the
play shifts setting and time within the act.
The play moves between fifteen years back and
the present, and from Brooklyn to Boston
without any interruption in the plot.
The times of the play fluctuate between a point in
1942 and another in 1928.
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9. Expressionism in Arthur Miller ’s works
Fourth one is that Miller employed to show
Willy's state of mind, his inner crisis, and his
psychological unbalance.
They also can show Willy's inner debacles and his
social dilemmas.
Fifth one is that the dream sequences are the
expressionistic devices that Miller used in Death
of a Salesman.
They are part and parcel of the play.
 It is only through them that the audience
become acquainted with some of the most
important events in Willy's life.
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10. Expressionism in Arthur Miller ’s works
Events that changed his life radically like: Biff's
prowess on the cricket field, Ben's
adventurous nature and the fabulous wealth
he acquired, and Willy's affair in Boston and
Biff's unexpected arrival.
Last one is the use of symbolic characters, and
a rejection of the strong individualistic figures.
This is true with Death of a Salesman in which
Willy Loman, like the great tragic figures of
Sophocles and Shakespeare.
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11. Expressionism in Eugene O’Neill’s
works
O'Neill was the first American dramatist to
regard the stage as a literary medium and the
only American playwright ever to receive the
Nobel Prize for Literature.
He was influenced by Freud and Jung theory
of psychoanalysis.
He was concerned with the relation of man to
God.
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12. Expressionism in Eugene O’Neill’s
works
Once he said that
‘Most modern plays are concerned with the
relation between man and man, but that does
not interest me at all. I am interested only in the
relation between man and God’.
Eugene O’Neill was influenced by Greeks.
The Greeks believed that ‘Man is the slave of his
destiny’.
 Things are pre determined.
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13. Expressionism in Eugene O’Neill’s
works
Once Eugene O’Neill said that
‘I am always trying to interpret life in terms of
character. I am always acutely conscious of the
force behind life’.
First expressionistic element is that O’Neill
ignored the conventional limitation of the
time of the play.
He usually has so much to say and a desire to
unfold the working of human mind.
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14. Expressionism in Eugene O’Neill’s
works
 Many of his plays are too long including The Iceman
Cometh and Strange Interlude.
 Second point is that, he explored the psychological
duality of self , and how it confronts with each other.
 That is why he advocated the importance of
masks.
 Thirdly Neill used different devices to understand the
nature of ambiguous response to the existing
tension between the individual conscious and social
conscious.
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15. Expressionism in Eugene O’Neill’s
works
Neill employed
expressionistic techniques in varying degrees, to
impart deeper layer of
meanings in order to dramatise the clash between
the conscious and the unconscious.
He himself said:
I’m never the advocate of anything in any play –
except
humanity towards humanity .
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16. Expressionism in Eugene O’Neill’s
works
 Fourth point is that, in The Hairy Ape , the
dramatist employs a kind of telegraphic
language so characteristic of Expressionistic
drama. The rhythm of speeches, abrupt and
disjointed, reinforces the impression of the
formlessness and confusion of the lives of
these sailors and stokers.
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17. Expressionism in Eugene O’Neill’s
works
Fifth one is that The Hairy Ape is another
important expressionistic play which
dramatizes the conflict between the conscious
lack and the unconscious fullness . The writer
has artistically changed factual representation
to emotional presentation.
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18. Conclusion
In short we can say that Eugene and Miller
presented expressionism.
They used different techniques for
expressionism.
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19. The End
Thank You
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