Is Mourning Becomes Electra a Greek Tragedy or a Modern Tragedy?

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Difference Between Greek and Modern Tragedy

Before discussing Mourning Becomes Electra as a Greek or a Modern Tragedy, it is important to know the difference between classical and modern tragedy. Classical tragedies are Greek tragedies. They are known for severe suffering of the protagonist of a higher class and his suffering is inflicted by gods or by fate upon him. But in a modern tragedy, a protagonist does not have to belong to a noble family. His suffering is not imposed by fate but by the logical circumstances like war or psychological illness. The hero's tragic downfall does not impact his society or countrymen but rather personally.

Mourning Becomes Electra is a tragedy for sure. But it is often confused between a Greek tragedy and modern tragedy. Along with those two elements, this play houses the psychological complex of Freudian theories. It is a story of the destruction of the Mannon family through their own evil-doings.

Mournig Becomes Electra as a Classical Modern Tragedy

Mourning Becomes Electra as a Greek Tragedy

It is no surprise that Mourning Becomes Electra takes its tragic elements from a renowned Greek tragedy Oresteia by Aeschylus. The Grecian themes of tragic genius like incest, darkness, hatred, justice, suicide and murder are also present in this play. We have the character of Agamemnon as Ezra Mannon and the king's return from the Trojan war is paralleled by the return of Ezra from the American Civil War. In Grecian tragedy, the king's wife, Clytemnestra, along with her lover, Aegisthus, plan to murder the king. This event is represented by Christine's affair with Brant and their plot to kill Ezra Mannon. Just like the chorus in a typical Greek tragedy, we have commentators like Seth Beckwith and the chantyman. Another point, which may favour this play in the category of Greek tragedy is Ezra's higher position as a general. Surely, his tragic downfall may not impact the whole American civilization just like we saw in Oedipus Rex but still there are many soldiers under his influence. His tragic death will definitely leave a strong impact on the soldiers under his command.

Mourning Becomes Electra as a Modern Tragedy

Mourning Becomes Electra is not a tragedy of Ezra Mannon alone. It is a tragedy of almost every member of the Mannon family. They are neither kings, nor princes. They are common American citizens. The tenets of tragedy, constituted by Aeschylus and Aristotle do not fit entirely in this play, which is written by an American playwright, O'Neill after so many centuries. O'Neill himself states,

Tragic characters are far below the stature of Aristotelian tragic hero though Ezra Mannon is an exception.

The other tragic heroes and heroines like Orin, Lavinia, Christine, Brant etc. see their tragic fate, not because of the wrath of Apollo but they are forced by the unconscious psychology. There are no other gods to play with the fate of these characters. Their fate is determined by their own unconscious actions.

This play is also modern in the perspective of performance. The role of female characters is performed by female actors instead of the male actors in the past. The use of masks is also absent from the play because it is shown to a modern audience who will definitely jeer at the ridiculous setup of masks and male actors playing females.

Influence of the Freudian Psychological Complex

Mourning Becomes Electra showcases a strong influence of the psychological theories of Sigmund Freud. We see the manifestation of these theories in the shape of Oedipus Complex and Electra Complex. We know that Oedipus had unknowingly married his mother when he was awarded with the kingdom of Thebes. But in this play, Orin unconsciously loves his mother Christine as his beloved and calls her "an island of peace".

Electra is a character from Oresteia who helps to kill her mother. But Lavinia (who represents Electra) shows her love for her father Ezra Mannon and she thinks that her father needs her more than anyone. We see Lavinia's hatred for her mother Christine and Brant while Orin hates his father like the enemies which were killed by his pistol during the war. Lavinia locks herself after she unconsciously calls her lover Peter, Brant. Thus, the psychological complex is as powerful as Greek gods in ancient times.

Opinion of Critics

Some critics have very harsh opinions on Mourning Becomes Electra. They call this play an over-simplified tragedy in which characters are motivated by the Freudian psychology. Some proclaim this play as a white elephant in American's history of literature. A critic goes beyond and calls this play "a thirteen act monstrosity".

But most of the critics appreciate this play as one of the finest modern tragedies. A critic named Joseph Wood Crutch asserts his opinion as below,

Mourning Becomes Electra has all virtues which one expects in the best of contemporary writings.

He even ranks it among the great tragedies of all the time like Oedipus Rex, Macbeth and Hamlet.

Conclusion

Mourning Becomes Electra is a multi-dimensional tragedy, featuring the Freudian psychological mishap in a person's life. O'Neill himself concludes the discussion about his play as a tragedy in the most appropriate way,

Mourning Becomes Electra is a modern tragic interpretation of classic fate without benefits of gods……. fate springing out of the family.