Eugene O'Neill's Marco Millions and Taoism

• Main Authors: Chang, Su-chen, 張素
• Other Authors: Yen, Chen-ying
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/33221617503971049120

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 外國語文學系 === 85 === Eugene O'Neill's fascination with the East and Taoism is apparent invarious ways. In 1928, he realized his life- long fantasy with the East bytaking a cruise to China. In 1937, he built a Chinese-style residence atDanville which he named "Tao House." In a 1932 letter, moreover, he statedthat "the mysticism of Lao-tse & Chuang-Tzu interested me more than otherOriental writings." Among all of his plays, Marco Millions is unique becauseit is fraught with a mystic Taoist temper. It is also a crucial work thatshows his fascination and understanding of Taoist ideas. Therefore, thisthesis will focus on Marco Millions and its affinities with Taoism. This study is composed of four chapters. The first chapter introduces thethe thesis, explains the decision to use an in-depth anaysis of one play,Marco Millions, and explores Taoist influence on O'Neill's life and art. Thesecond chapter attempts to clarify some Taoist notions which are revalent toO'Neilll. This chapter will explain Taoism in terms of cosmology, philosophyof life and political philosophy, and finally concludes with an analysisof the similarities between Taoism and O'Neill's philosophical ideas. In thethird chapter, the play of Marco Millions will be anaylzed in the light ofTaoism. Broadly speaking, th main theme of the play explicitly reveals Taoistvision of life and death. Its dramatic structure coincidentally resemblesTaoist notion of cycles. And the characterization of its main charactersreflects Taoist principle of non-action. The fourth chapter contains thefindings and conclusions of this study.