- 1
The play opens with a lengthy stage description. What effect does this have, and why might O'Neill have added so much detail?
The curtain opens on a grand hall, the emperor's throne room on a tropical island. While the room is sparsely furnished, we see the throne dedicated to the eponymous "emperor" before we see anything else. O'Neill paints a detailed description of the room itself that not only gives technical instructions for how to appoint the stage, but also have a novelistic attention to detail and tone. Not only do we the reader know what the set is to look like, but also, to a certain extent, how it is meant to make the audience feel.
- 2
What role does Smithers...
Join Now to View Premium Content
GradeSaver provides access to 2360 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 11007 literature essays, 2767 sample college application essays, 926 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.
