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Euripides Hippolytus and Sophocles' Oedipus bear strong thematic connections to the story, not coincidentally. Consider reading these (or parts or adaptations of them) in tandem with the play, or separately in preparation for or after reading Desire Under the Elms.
In addition, consider O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra for similar themes as well, notably the Oedipal and Electra complexes of dysfunctional family life.
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The Question and Answer section for Desire Under the Elms is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
The interior of the parlor is like a tomb. Abbie is dressed in her best clothes, but no longer appears confident and wily. Eben enters, and muses how he feels Maw in here. Abbie feels it too. She says the presence likes her, but Eben says his Maw...
The Oedipus Complex can be seen in the 'mother/lover' relationship of Eban and Abbie. While sex and desire fuel Abbie and Eben, however, they are not necessarily depicted as immoral impulses. They are purer than the crass greed and materialism...
There are a lot of similarities to Greek Tragedy and the whole Oedipus complex thing. THe basic psycho-sexual drives of people are examined through Ephraim Cabot, his son Eben, Abby Putnam (Ephraim’s new wife). Eben and Abby both reflect this...
