The Great God Brown

Description:

Renowned for its use of masks to differentiate between the characters’ inner emotions and outward appearances, Eugene O’Neill’s The Great God Brown premiered in 1926. As with many of O’Neill’s works, the narrative leans towards themes of tragedy and disillusionment. O’Neill is among the playwrights from the early twentieth century credited with forging a distinctly American theatrical style.

Plot Summary:

On the evening of the high school graduation dance, Billy Brown is on a pier with his parents, who declare that he will study architecture in college and join his father’s firm. After the Browns leave, the Anthony family arrives. Initially, Mr. Anthony is hesitant about sending his son Dion to college, preferring he do manual labour. However, upon learning that Billy will study architecture, Mr. Anthony changes his mind and challenges Dion to become a better architect than Billy.

Margaret and Billy then arrive at the pier, where Margaret professes her love for Dion, and Billy confesses his feelings for Margaret. Disheartened, Billy resolves to remain her friend. The scene shifts to Dion, who removes his mask to reveal his sadness and insecurity. Billy approaches, and Dion, initially resentful, confides his insecurities about loving Margaret. After Dion’s father dies, Dion marries Margaret, and they move to Europe for Dion’s artistic career.

Seven years later, Dion and Margaret return from Europe after his artistic career fails. Dion, now an alcoholic, has become more cynical. Needing money, Margaret persuades Dion to join Billy’s architecture firm. Cybel, a young woman, finds Dion passed out and offers him emotional support, prompting Dion to remove his mask and reveal his true self. Billy also finds solace with Cybel.

Over the next seven years, Billy’s mask softens. One night, he reveals his true face to Margaret, expressing his desire to leave, but she cannot bear to see his face. Later, Dion meets Billy at a library and admits to a betrayal from their youth that has left him envious and unable to establish his identity. Dion dies, and Billy assumes Dion’s identity and seeks Margaret’s love.

A month later, Margaret visits Billy’s office searching for her husband. She no longer wears her mask as Billy, disguised as Dion, makes her happy. She asks about Dion’s whereabouts, and Billy, overwhelmed, removes his Billy mask to show a face tormented by Dion’s demon. He declares his love, but Margaret flees. That night, she tells Billy (as Dion) about the encounter, and he vows to kill the man, surprising Margaret.

Another month passes, and Billy prays for the strength to end his life. At his office, he frantically switches between his mask and Dion’s while dealing with Margaret and clients. He eventually disappears, and his coworkers, finding his Billy mask, assume he is dead. Everyone but Margaret believes Dion killed him. The police, mistaking Billy in Dion’s mask for Dion, shoot him. Margaret mourns her dead husband upon finding the Dion mask. Dying, Billy tells Cybel he has found God.

Four years later, Margaret stands on the pier from the play’s beginning with her children, urging them to honour their father’s memory and declaring her undying love.

Themes and Reception:

The Great God Brown delves into themes of identity and the American Dream using both conventional and experimental theatre techniques. The masks symbolise the characters’ hidden and visible emotions as they navigate their tumultuous lives. Billy’s prosperous architectural career and his good looks and education make him an emblem of the American Dream, yet his romantic life is unfulfilled. Conversely, Dion’s struggle to form an identity stems from Billy’s early betrayal of his art.

Upon its release, the play received mixed reviews. Some critics admired O’Neill’s experimental approach to illustrating inner emotions, while others found it perplexing or dull. The Wall Street Journal described it as “a laboratory experiment not good for the theatre.” Despite this, the play enjoyed a successful initial run of 283 performances in New York, though critical opinion remains divided over time.