The Use of Autobiography in American Modern Plays

Abstract

An author has a tendency of including autobiographical elements in a play whether he or she intends to or not. Modern American dramatists such as Arthur Miller, Eugene O’Neill and Tennessee Williams were no exception. The three authors have one thing in common that allows them to employ a similar writing style. Miller’s, O’Neill’s and Williams’ fathers failed their sons each in his own, unique way and the playwrights felt the on-going after-effects each in his own, unique way. In particular, each of these writers wrote one play that was in each case especially autobiographical in nature. In his play Arthur Miller demonstrates clearest links between the play and his own relationship with his real father by illustrating a character’s troubling relationship with his father. O’Neill illustrates a drug addiction problem in his character to portray a similar problem in his actual family. And lastly, Williams illustrates a theme of escape and flight from one’s loved ones throughout his play in order to depict his own life. Whether or not the goal of understanding was achieved for the playwright, a certain degree of understanding is available for the reader. Much of the play can be seen as a working through of this particular relational dynamic―betrayal by those who are the closest. In conclusion, the autobiographical plays do contain certain positive aspects --the possibility of hope, even though they appear at first glance to be overwhelmingly bleak portrayals of family life. They afforded Miller, O’Neill and Williams a medium through which to re-examine their pasts and attempt to gain a bit of understanding of themselves and their families.