Essay on Theater in the 1920s - 475 Words

In the 1920s, the theater was considered the scene of a curious conflict between realism and a freer form of theatricality. (MacGowen, viii) There were many famous playwrights of the era. Among these were Thornton Wilder and, probably the most prominent playwright, Eugene ONeill. These two authors used many of the same themes in their writing; romanticism was a popular one. However, they each also used themes and styles of writing that set them apart from other writers. The values that were promoted in the works of Thornton Wilder included those of Christian morality, the community, the family, and the appreciation of everyday pleasures. (Wilder, Discovering Authors) Wilder was more of a realist than a romantic, though in his†¦show more content†¦(ONeill, Discovering Authors) Many of his plays contain profound insights into mans inner nature, his drive to attain wealth and power. (ONeill, Multimedia Encyclopedia) His early plays suggest the beauty and impossibility of the romantic dream to which all of the characters remain true. (Carpenter, 65) Later plays turned from the always beautiful dream to the always ugly reality. (Carpenter, 67) ONeill was unique in the many different techniques he used. These included interior monologue, stream of consciousness dialogue, the aside, symbolic masks, the chorus, thematic repetition, mythological motiffs, and frank unrealism. (ONeill, Discovering Authors) During the 1920s, the theater was very popular. Many playwrights emerged from the decade more famous than what they entered. Two of these playwrights were Eugene ONeill and Thornton Wilder. ONeill wrote many of the famous plays of the 1920s. He later won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1936, the only American to do so. (ONeill, Discovering Authors) Wilder also wrote many plays during the roaring twenties. He distinguished himself from his contemporaries with his religious humanism, stylisitc virtuosity, and technical versatility. (Burbank, 27) WORKS CITED Burbank, Rex J. Thornton Wilder. second edition, Boston: Twayne Publishers, A division of G.K. Hall Co., 1978. Carpenter, Frederick I. Eugene ONeill. Boston: Twayne Publishers, AShow MoreRelatedHistory of Theater: 1890 - 19202131 Words   |  9 Pageshonor. The first Greek plays were all tragedies but eventually comedy made its way and these plays were performed at festivals all over Greece. Through the centuries theater played the main role of entertainment from noble and royalty to the common person in any city or village, and as we move into the twenties century, theater was still a huge part of the entertainment for the masses. 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