Mourning Becomes Electra is a family drama. And this is one seriously twisted family, locked in repetitive and compulsive patterns that bring down everyone named Mannon and some people who aren't. O'Neill presents the family as doomed to repeat the relationship that started the cycle of deception and revenge. He seems to suggest that certain character traits run in families, and that some patterns are just inescapable. All families have conflicts, of course; just think back on your own past 24 hours. But chances are they won't have involved murder, suicide, or incest. These Mannons have it all. Even the Civil War, which provides the historical backdrop for the story, was a sad family affair. Brothers fought and killed brothers, families were divided. The war mirrors the horrible events taking place on a smaller scale in our dysfunctional family.
Questions About Family
- How many different families do we see in Mourning Becomes Electra and how are they alike or different?
- Why do the Mannon siblings feel haunted by their dead relatives?
- How does looking at the family introduce ideas about fate or destiny?
Chew on This
Orin and Lavinia can't put their family history behind them because they are mentally disturbed to begin with.
Their tendency to keep secrets is what really undoes the Mannon family.