Revista de Artes e Ciências Sociais

Ethical Crises in O’Neill’s Modern Theatre: Some Dimensions

Abstract

A Karim, NR Butt

Modern drama generally depicts a moral and spiritual wasteland and the resultant crises in the modern society. O’Neill’s modern art is a clear instance of the gravity of the impending spiritual and ethical crises. However, little has been written to explain what the specific nature of this crisis is? Moreover, how does it emerge in his tragic art? How far it adheres or differs from the traditions of tragedy? The study takes into consideration these to explore various dimensions of ethical crises in O’Neill’s modern theatre. It concludes that the predominance of ethical crises in diverse fashions is an obstacle to block rise in anti-Americanism and dissolve emerging conflict between Pakistani civil society and American desire for greater association with the civil society at micro level in Pakistan.