The Iceman Cometh
by Eugene O'Neill
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Book Summary Information
Author: Eugene O'NeillForeword: Harold Bloom
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-08-28
ISBN: 0300117434
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: Yale University Press
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780300117431
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of The Iceman Cometh
Book Review: A visit to Hope's alcoholic private hell-hole
Summary: 3 Stars
I saw an excellent documentary about O'Neill's life that painted a dark picture of a bitter, depressed man who was also a gifted dramatist. The film pointed to this as being one of his two great masterpieces. It was not far into the play that I began to disagree. Doesn't a masterpiece have to present something other than misery, depravity, and total cynicism to the world? Can a play portray human life as a nasty, ugly, booze-soaked joke and still be a great play? Maybe it can - if the characters and story are compelling enough - but I am not sure they are.
The story centers around a combination flophouse/saloon in downtown New York City in 1912, a place packed with losers and has-beens drowning themselves in cheap booze. Apparently it is based on a real place that O'Neill spent some time in as a young man. This dump is presided over by a former low-level politico named Harry Hope, and it provides a haven for this sordid bunch. Several of them are flotsam from the Leftist movements, one is Black and a former gambling house operator, there are a couple of old officers from the Boer War, etc. All are awaiting the arrival of saviour-like Hickey, a charismatic traveling salesman who buys drinks for the house and shows everyone a good time. Each character clings to some sort of false hope that they will regain what they once had.
The dialogue is old New Yorkese, tough street lingo - that in itself is interesting, and it is too bad this was not written as a dark comedy of some kind. But O'Neill wants to rip the pretty wrapping off of life and reveal it in its true ugliness. Hickey shows up, and says he has found a way to be free from his illusions, and he no longer needs to drink. In the second half of the play, he goes about forcing the other characters to confront their weaknesses and to try to get moving again. Towards the end we see that Hickey doesn't have the answers at all - he is as crazy as any of them, just more charming.
Despite its dramatic power, this is a cynical, nihilistic piece of writing - and long too. If that is your pleasure, then drink up. But I tend to agree with the character Larry, who at one point says, "For the love of Christ will you leave me in peace! . . . You vomit your own soul like a drink of nickel rotgut that won't stay down! To hell with you!"
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