40 pages • 1 hour read
Eugene O'NeillBeyond the Horizon
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1920A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Beyond the Horizon by Eugene O'Neill centers on brothers Andrew and Robert Mayo, who both love the same woman, Ruth Atkins. Robert stays to marry Ruth, giving up his dream of traveling, while Andrew leaves to become a sailor. Over eight years, Robert's farming and marriage fail, leading to despair and familial conflict. The play explores themes of unfulfilled dreams, family dysfunction, and doomed romance.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Eugene O'Neill's Beyond the Horizon, his first full-length play, has drawn praise for its deep emotional resonance and complex character development. However, critics note that its slow pacing and bleak themes may not appeal to all readers. Overall, it is considered a significant work in American drama for its realistic portrayal of familial and existential struggles.
Who Should Read Beyond the Horizon?
Readers who are drawn to introspective character studies and poignant explorations of fate and ambition will enjoy Eugene O'Neill's Beyond the Horizon. Fans of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard or Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire will appreciate its emotional depth and complexity.