"The Dreamy Kid" by Eugene O’Neill- An Analysis

 

The Dreamy Kid

-        Eugene O’Neill

Introduction

Eugene O’Neill (1888 –1953) is an American playwright.  He received Nobel prize for laureate in 1936. He is known for realism in his works. He was awarded Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1920, 1922, 1928, and 1957. His Dreamy Kid was first performed at the 52nd Street Theatre in 1925. It deals with the themes of old age, racial difference, Love, and American dream. The setting of the play is New York.

Language and Style

The language of the play is very complex. O’Neil uses the dialect Creole throughout the play. Creole is a natural language that develops from a mix of different languages like French, African American, European languages etc. Though the spelling is English, most of the words are unreadable. The playwright creates the world of the characters using the appropriate dialect specific to the region. Moreover, the inner world of the old woman Mammy Saunders is portrayed through her incomplete and fragmented sentences.  Further, the young world of New York is represented by the abusive language used by Dreamy and his girl friend Irene.

Mammy Saunder’s Life

When the play opens, Mammy Saunders, the old woman is on her bed. Her bedroom is in a house of Carmine Street, New York City. It is soon after nightfall of a day in early winter. The room is in shadowy half-darkness. There is a wooden bed, and a rocking chair in the room. The vague outlines of Mammy Sounders' figure lying in the bed can be seen through the dim light. The setting of the room brings the gloomy atmosphere on the stage.

The Anxiety of Mammy Saunders

Ceely Ann, a middle-aged friend is taking care of Mammy Saunders in her old age.  The conversation between them reveals the anxiety of the old lady. Mammy asks Ceely to light the lamp and says that she wants to see Dreamy before she dies. She believes that her grandson Dreamy is the most innocent boy in the world. She falls asleep and speaks in the sleep. She always utters the name of Dreamy in her sleep. This shows that she is obsessed with her grandson.

 

The Role of Irene

Irene, the girl friend of Dreamy enters and informs Ceely that if Dreamy comes, he has to go immediately. She is not welcomed by Ceely. Later, when Dreamy comes in secrecy, Ceely goes out taking a break. Later, Irene informs him that she saw the police were talking about him. Dreamy reveals that he has shot a white man the previous day. Dreamy forces Irene to leave the house to ensure her safety.

The Meeting between Mammy and Dreamy

The meeting between Mammy and Dreamy is very moving. She talks to him like a child. When she says that she is going to die, he says that she will outlive him to keep flowers on his grave. Dreamy is worried that the police may enter the house at any time. He keeps a chest of drawers behind the door and keeps his gun ready. He holds the hand of Mammy in one hand and keeps the gun on the other pointing at the door. Dreamy asks her not to speak aloud, but she keeps interacting with him.

Mammy claims that the only good thing that she has done in her whole life is raising Dreamy as a kid. She is very proud that she gave him the nick name “Dreamy” when he was a child. She asks him to kneel and pray for her. Though the situation was not favourable, he obeys her and prays for her aloud. Thus Dreamy fulfils the last wish of Mammy. The play has an open ending in which the gun shots are heard.

The Two Children

            In this play, both Dreamy and Mammy can be considered as children. Mammy is in her second childhood stage because of her old age. She longs to see her grandson and she feels elated when her dream is fulfilled. Her childish nature is very evident when she becomes talkative during her meeting with Dreamy. She ignores his warning of not making noise and continues to talk to him like a child. On the other hand, though Dreamy is aware that the police are looking for him, he takes the risk of meeting his grandmother in her house. This shows that he listens to the child in hum. For the society, Dreamy is a murderer, but for the family he is an obedient and loving human being. Hence, both Dreamy and Mammy can be considered as children at heart.

Conclusion

            Eugine O’Neil’s Dreamy Kid  is an interesting portrayal about the delicate relationship between a grand mother and grandson. It portrays the importance and the beauty of human relationship in the modern American life. 

Link for Video Lesson: https://youtu.be/CCtex5Qq9Hg

 

"Marriage is a Private Affair" by Chinua Achebe- Essay

 

Marriage is a Private Affair

-        Chinua Achebe

Introduction

Chinua Achebe (1930-2013) is an acclaimed Nigerian poet, novelist, and literary critic. His “Marriage is a Private Affair” is a short story which talks about the life of a young couple, Nene and Nnaemeka. The story delas with the conflict between the tradition and modernity through the love marriage of the said couple.  

The Conflict

Nene and Nnaemeka are living in Lagos.  At the beginning of the story, Nene asks Nnaemeka to inform his father about their engagement. But, Nnaemeka hesitates to notify his father since he is a traditional man. His father, Okeke, is from the Ibo tribe. In their culture, the parents choose brides for their sons. Nnaemeka has already received a letter from his father stating that Okeke has chosen him a bride Ugoye. He praises her as a good Christian girl. So he knows that his father will not accept his decision to marry a woman on his own.

The Decision of the Father

Nnaemeka visits his father and tells him about his engagement with Nene. He informs him that she is from a different tribe and she is a teacher. Okeke says that this engagement is Satan's work. He insists that women should not teach. He tells his son that he will never meet Nene in his life. Okeke disapproves of the marriage and excommunicates his son. Nnaemeka hopes that one day his father will relent and accept him. Unfortunately, Okeke remains obstinate and refuses to acknowledge the couple since they have broken the tradition.

The Reconciliation

The married couple live happily in the city. Slowly, they are accepted by the Ibo members living in Lagos. Nene sends Nnaemeka’s father a letter which informs that they have two children. In the letter, Nene asks Okeke if she can send them to visit their grandfather. After reading the letter, Okeke feels guilty for rejecting his son’s family. Simultaneously, a rainstorm occurs. Okeke visualizes his grandsons standing in the rain. That night Okeke is unable to sleep. He fears that he will not live long enough to meet his son and his family. Thus, the story talks about the transformation of Okeke from a rigid person to an accepting personality.