Beyond the Horizon by Eugene O'Neill
The play revolves around the theme of the American Dream and its illusion. The protagonist, Robert Mayo, is a self-made man who has achieved success through hard work and determination. However, he becomes disillusioned with his life and feels trapped in his marriage and business. He begins to question the values of the society he lives in and the emptiness of material wealth.
By Eugene O'Neill · First published 1920 · Genre: Drama, Tragedy, Romance · 6 chapters · 39,719 words
First lines
CHARACTERS JAMES MAYO, _a farmer_ KATE MAYO, _his wife_ CAPTAIN DICK SCOTT, _of the bark_ Sunda, _her brother_ ANDREW MAYO } ROBERT MAYO } _sons of_ JAMES MAYO RUTH ATKINS MRS. ATKINS, _her widowed mother_ MARY BEN, _a farm hand_ DOCTOR FAWCETT
_A section of country highway. The road runs diagonally from the left, forward, to the right, rear, and can be seen in the distance winding toward the horizon like a pale ribbon between the low, rolling hills with their freshly plowed fields clearly divided from each other, checkerboard fashion, by the lines of stone walls and rough snake fences._
What this Textopian page supports
Beyond the Horizon is listed on Textopian as a play by Eugene O'Neill, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: Eugene O'Neill
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Tragedy, Romance, Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age
- Length: 39,719 words
- Structure: 6 chapters, 896 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Beyond the Horizon by Eugene O'Neill
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Beyond the Horizon?
- How does this play by Eugene O'Neill fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Drama first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Edith Conant by Edgar Lee Masters
- Magnetism by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- The Fruit Of The Tree by Edith Wharton
- The New Years Eve Confession by Hermann Sudermann
- The Rendezvous by Guy De Maupassant
- When God Laughs by Jack London
Genres
- Drama — The play explores deep emotional conflicts and character interactions, typical of dramatic literature.
- Tragedy — Themes of longing, unfulfilled dreams, and familial relationships contribute to a tragic atmosphere.
- Romance — The relationship between Robert and Ruth highlights romantic elements and emotional connections.
- Literary Fiction — The focus on character development and thematic depth aligns with literary fiction.
Tags
Drama · Tragedy · Family · Marriage · Infidelity · Love · Loss · Grief · Mental Health · Psychological Insight · Character Study · Symbolism
Contents
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II