榆树下的欲望矛盾与题目分析

DesireUndertheElms广东外语外贸大学英文学院林燕珊唐伊琳RelationshipsofthecharactersPeter&SimeonEbenAbbieEphraimCabotFather&sonHalf-brothersFather&sonloversHusband&wifeMajorconflictsPeter&SimeonEbenAbbieEphraimCabotFather&sonHalf-brothersFather&sonloversHusband&wifeConflictrevealslover&step-sonLover&step-motherEbenNo,I’mfightin’him--

fightin’yew--fightin’furMaw’srightst’herhum!An’I’montoye.Yehain’tfoolin’meamite.Ye’reaimin’t’swallerupeverythin’an’makeityour’n.(Heturnsfromherwithasneer)PartⅡSceneⅠHereyestakehiminpenetratinglywithacalculatingappraisalofhisstrengthasagainsther.Butunderthisherdesireisdimlyawakenedbyhisyouthandgoodlooks.PartⅠSceneⅣrebellionhatredConflictaccumulateslover&step-sonLover&step-motherEben--Sometimessheusedt’singfurme.Abbie–I’llsingfurye!Eben—An’Iloveyew,Abbie!—nowIkinsayit!Ibeendyin’furwanto’ye–everyhoursinceyecome!Iloveye!(Theirlipsmeetinafierce,bruisingkiss.)PartⅡSceneⅣAbbie–Nowit’sgoin’t’bemyroom!Eben–(frowning)Ay-eh.Abbie–(hastily)Imeant–ourroom.PartⅡSceneⅣsexualurgeusehimConflictreachitspeaklover&step-sonLover&step-motherEben(gaspingly)T’hell—withye.(Gloweringatherwithhatred)Ay-eh–Iknowye—now!(hesuddenlybreaksdown,sobbingweakly)Ye’renothin’butastinkin’passelo’lies!…PartⅢSceneⅡEben—(brokenly)Lies!...It’syewlyin’yewlovedme—jestt’gitasont’steal!Abbie—(distractedly)Hewon’tsteal!I’dkillhimfust!Idoloveye!I’llproveIloveyebetter’n…Better’neveryin’elseintheworld!PartⅢSceneⅡhatredaffectionConflictdissolveslover&step-sonLover&step-motherEben—Fergiveme!Iloveye!Fergiveme!...Eben–Ibegunt’runback.Ithoughtyemighthavetimet’runaway–withme.Abbie–(shakingherhead)Igott’takemypunishment.Eben–ThenIwantt’sharewithye.PartⅢSceneⅣAbbie–Yedidn’tdonothin’.…Abbie–No.itwasmealone!(layingherheadonhis--sobbing)No!Idon’twantyewt’suffer!PartⅢSceneⅣloveloveThemeaningofthetitle------DesireUndertheElmsElms→(1)thespiritofEben'smotherFirstparagraph(line5-11)

"Thereisasinistermaternityintheiraspect,acrushing,jealousabsorption.......Theybroodoppressivelyoverthehouse."

(Part3,Scene1)

Cabot:"Yekinfeelitdroppin'offtheelums,climbin'uptheroof,sneakin'downthechimney,pokin'inthecorners!......Somethin'salwayslivin'withye."Elms→(2)nature,humandesireAvividsimileAbbieusestoseduceEben:

"Nature--makin’thin’sgrow--bigger‘n’bigger--burnin’insideye--makin’yewantt’grow--intosomethin’else--tillye’rejinedwithit......Likethemelums--Nature’llbeatye,Eben."(PartII,Scene1)Desire→plenty

(...)榆树下的“恋情”VS榆树下的“欲望”1.Materialdesires:(1)goldinCaliforniaDesireofgoldinCalifornia

Thetwobrothersmention15times

"goldinCalifornia".(PartI)Infact→desireoffreedom."they’sgoldintheWest--an’freedom,mebbe.Webeenslavest’stonewallshere.""furoncewe’refree!"(PartI,scene4)1.Materialdesires:(2)

possessionofthefarmEben:“Itwasherfarm!didn’thestealitfromher?She’sdead.It’smyfarm.”(partI,scene2)Abbie:“I’llgoinan’lookatmy

house”“Thisbemyfarm--thisbemyhum--thisbemy

kitchen!”(partI,scene4)Cabot:“Yewr’n?Mine!”(partI,scene4)“I’dsetitafirean’watchitburn......Alla-dyingwithmean’nooneelse’deverownwhatwasmine......”(partII,scene1)EventheSheriff:(lookedaroundenviously)“WishedIownedit!”2.Sexualdesire:

EbenandAbbie’sdesireforeachother.“Theystaredagain,Ebenobscurelymoved,physicallyattractedtoher--inforcedstiltedtones”(partI,scene4)“herdesireisdimlyawakenedbyhisyouthandgoodlooks.”(partI,scene4)“hereyesburningwithdesire”(partII,scene4)EbenAbbieBothofthem“Theirphysicalattractionbecomesapalpableforcequiveringinthehotair.”(partII,scene1)“Theirhotglances