An Analysis of the Character of Dancer in Eugene O Neill's one-act play "Thirst"
In each of the modern play, psychology forms the upper hand. In the opacity of abysmal human psychological world the floating characters in the modern play broods over the revelation of life and its greater meaning. Eugene O Neill's one-act play "Thirst" also provides a befitting atmosphere to snatch away the agonized hearts of three persons who are pinned up in the formulated phrase of lifelessness. The zeal for life, for rescue as if, in co-relation to fleeting El Dorado or missing Godot is totally absent in the hovering atmosphere of vast Atlantic Ocean where there is scorching sunlight and the endless blue horizon. The Dancer is still aspiring to live, dreams to live for the love of her life even if, it is denied altogether by fate or by still unknown human actions. The Dancer represents the class of arts, of living with hope, betterment and full of human dreams. Thus her transformation from life to death is the greatest tragic downfall expressed in the play. The Dancer plays a vital role in embodying themes of survival, desperation, and illusion. The Story:
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| Eugene O Neill |
Symbol of Fragility and Vulnerability:
The Dancer represents the fragility of human life, particularly in moments of extreme physical distress. A former ballet performer, she carries the grace and delicacy of her past profession but is now reduced to a mere shadow of her former self, physically weak and vulnerable to the harshness of nature. Her fading beauty and exhaustion contrast with her previous life as a performer, illustrating how survival strips away the superficial layers of identity and status.
From the greater symbolic stance it can be also be said that we are Dancers in the love of finery and beauty; we are Gentleman in our sober attitude to society and obviously the West Indian Mulatto under our sleeve in our basic instincts. After the Dancer’s death, the transformation of the West Indian Mulatto to cannibalism is justifiable, as after the death of finery and socialism each human being turns savage. In the greatest psychologically traumatized situation our transformation to savagery is a stunning truth.
Desperation, Mistrust and Fear:
Throughout the play, the Dancer is consumed by fear of death and the desperate need for water. Her desperation leads to irrational behavior, mirroring the psychological breakdown of the other characters. She frequently hallucinates, seeing illusions of water and imagining the return to safety, which emphasizes her detachment from reality as survival instincts overpower reason. This desperation highlights the theme of human helplessness in the face of natural forces.
The story of mistrust is there hovering as the three figures gradually transforming into the death figure owing to hunger, thirst and devastated hopes. Only in the hallucination, they see the green island with crippling stream, the saving boat etc. Hopes are dashed into the field of actuality as no water, no rescuer arrives, and only the silence and scorching sun remains. We can locate their frustrations in their speeches. The Dancer anticipates "My God, this is horrible to wait and wait for something that never comes". But she cannot escape the curse that hovers over O' Neill's imaginary world: suffering as a secular equivalent to the idea of Original Sin, the inevitable outcome of the human condition. Dancer again cries, "Oh, this silence! I cannot bear this silence. Talk to me about anything you please but, for God's sake, talk to me! I must not think! I must not think!".
Longing for Escape and Illusion:
The Dancer’s background as a performer connects her to themes of illusion and escape. Her memories of the stage and her desire to maintain some semblance of grace even in the lifeboat suggest a longing to escape the harshness of her present reality. This is mirrored in her mental and emotional escape into hallucinations. The character’s reliance on illusions offers a broader commentary on how individuals cope with unbearable situations—by clinging to memories of better times or by creating false hopes.
Gender and Power Dynamics:
The Dancer's interactions with the Gentleman and the Sailor reveal the gender dynamics at play. As the only woman, she becomes a symbol of both vulnerability and a source of tension between the two men. The Gentleman views her with a kind of protective instinct, though it is tinged with condescension, while the Sailor's rough demeanor underscores the breakdown of social norms under extreme conditions. Her femininity and beauty, though fading, still serve as a focal point for the men’s attention and actions, adding another layer of complexity to her character.
Emotional Breakdown:
The Dancer’s emotional unraveling reflects the broader theme of psychological deterioration in the face of imminent death. Her bouts of hysteria, frantic gestures, and pleas for help are contrasted with moments of vulnerability where she seeks comfort in the memories of her past. This breakdown emphasizes the play’s focus on the human condition, where the veneer of civilization quickly fades when survival is at stake.
The Dancer's silence are telling, for in them she is calling upon the power of language to block out the reality that is slowly driving her mad. Water might be kept hidden by the Mulatto the other two accused off. The Dancer who is of greater hope for a better life next in store, dreams of a success after a struggling career. She is with the hope of a catastrophic somersault from death to life. She is offering the Mulatto the necklace for the sake of water. She is most probably offering her flash to the Mulatto. Like the Salome, she dances as she has danced for the noblemen millionaire and all degrees of gentlemen. She even proclaims, “I have never loved any of them as I will love you”. In order to quench her thirst she is cheapening her honor. However, her attempts fail and she dies a pathetic death.
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