No Way Out: Violence in Selected American Expressionist Plays

This thesis discusses the American expressionist plays of the 1920s and the acts of violence that occur in several of them. The expressionist plays of Eugene O’Neill, Elmer Rice, Sophie Treadwell, and Susan Glaspell all feature some type of violent death. These types of violence can be seen in German expressionist plays, as well as in proto-expressionist plays. The acts of violence are a recurring motif of expressionism, and their importance cannot be ignored. This thesis seeks to analyze the text and the settings of the plays, and how they relate to expressionism. The violence in each play is explored, and is traced back to the origins of expressionism, particularly World War I. It is concluded that violent actions are an important motif to expressionism, and these acts should be acknowledged as a characteristic of the form.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Theatre (UMKC)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Pierce, Alexander Dalton

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Londré, Felicia Hardison, 1941-

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/61872

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/61872