Eugene O'Neill Through poverty and fame, "An artist or nothing" (Miller p6), was the motto of a man named Eugene O'Neill, who wrote from his soul in an attempt to find salvation. In the year 1888, the Barrett House hotel in New York's Times Square saw the birth of a man who would be called the greatest American playwright. His father James was an actor and was famous across the United Sates for his role in …showed first 75 words of 2343 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2343 total…himself to himself not to the world"(Shain p2). His themes were strongly positioned on the state of mankind being one of loneliness and alienation. He spoke of the natural struggles between the sexes and between family members. As O'Neil set the benchmark, modern authors like Lorca are trying to imitate him "O'Neil was a precursor, at least in the American theater, of themes that have come to bulk large in twentieth century literature"(Shain 2).