Modern American Drama “A Streetcar Named Desire” By Tennessee Williams “All My Sons” By Arthur Miller “Desire Under the Elms” By Eugene O’Neill

Modern American Drama The aim was to “speak to a world in which the individual had been increasingly cut loose from the traditional "anchors" of religion, socio/political alignments, family relationships, and a defined self-image.”

Modern American Drama is… Term used to define the most influential works of the 20th century Written by and about Americans Comments on social and cultural changes Comments the idea of the “American Dream” Distinct ‘features’ such as language, themes, style, characters and structure that are similar to each other

Most Influential Modern American Drama Playwrights: Eugene O’Neill Tennessee Williams Arthur Miller (America’s 3 Master Playwrights)

The three "giant" voices that emerged in the canon of American dramatists in the first half of the twentieth century, Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams, and Arthur Miller, had several common goals. Each pushed to change American drama into a forum of serious purpose. Each sought innovative ways to externalize the emotional and psychological context of human consciousness Each sought to capture the internal turmoil of "ordinary" individuals struggling to cope with thwarted dreams and life’s tribulations

Style: Modern Realism Modern Realism: it represented everyday reality in a style that would seem familiar to the audiences that came to see these new plays. Became increasing popular during social and cultural changes such as the escalation of immigration and poverty, women’s rights, the depression, crisis in religion, and the continual strive towards the ‘American Dream’.

Style: Expressionism Used to portray the changing society, allowing the audience to look at it critically the stage could be highly elaborate or bare. Lighting, costumes, music, and scenery could be similarly non-realistic More like a dream (may shift between reality and dream, past and present)

Common Themes Reality versus Illusion The struggle/ destruction of the American Dream: when it has no where to go, it turns on itself Statements of psychological and spiritual displacement Loss of connections, loneliness, self deception

Common Themes Complicated dynamics of families Looks at the genuine tragedy in American character and American life The tragic hero Retrogression into sexual hedonism

Tennessee Williams