Desire Under the Elms 1958

Greed Shapes Ephraim's World

Widower Ephraim Cabot is depicted as a greedy New England farmer who has overworked his two wives to their graves. He treats his three sons as laborers on the farm, enforcing harsh discipline and control. He even proclaims a cruel desire that the land be burned rather than pass to anyone else after his death.

Birthright for Eben

The second wife dies and pleads with Eben, the youngest son, to claim the farm as his birthright. This plea sets up Eben's motivation to take control and alter the farm's future. Eben is persuaded to pursue ownership by those desires.

Eben Buys Out Brothers

Eben uses money stolen from his father to buy out his half-brothers' shares of the farm. Peter and Simeon head to California to seek fortune elsewhere. The siblings' departure widens Eben's control over the property.

A Cruel Declaration

Ephraim announces that his desire is for the farm not to be left to anyone, but burned to the ground on his death. He renounces any heirs and resolves to destroy the land rather than let it fall into others' hands. This ominous plan foreshadows the coming conflicts within the family.

Anna Arrives

Ephraim returns with a new wife, Anna, a beautiful and headstrong woman from Italy. Her arrival introduces new tensions into the household. She immediately becomes entwined with Eben.

Affair Ignites

Anna engages in an adulterous affair with Eben. The relationship complicates loyalties and threatens the old man's plan for the farm. The young lovers' secret grows more dangerous as their feelings deepen.

A Child Is Born

Anna bears Eben's child, but she deceives Ephraim into thinking the infant is his. Ephraim promises to will the farm to Anna, cementing her hold over the property. The deception tightens the grip of passion and power around the family.

Neighbors Mock the Cuckold

The neighbors openly mock Ephraim, jeering at him as a cuckold. The social ridicule isolates him and heightens the sense that the farm’s future is in jeopardy. The town’s gossip underscores the fragility of Ephraim's control.

Eben's Jealous Confrontation

Eben and Anna argue; Eben says he wishes the baby were dead and vows to never see Anna again. The confrontation reveals the depth of their jealousy and the stakes tied to the child. Anna fears losing Eben and doubles her determination to keep him.

Infanticide

In a desperate act of passion and fear, Anna kills the infant, hoping to prove her commitment to Eben. The crime shatters their lives and forces them to face the consequences. Eben's reaction will hinge on whether he can forgive what she has done.

Eben's Threat

Eben threatens to tell the sheriff about the killing and departs in anger. He seeks to escape the consequences while still clinging to his love for Anna. The couple's fragile alliance teeters on the edge of exposure.

Return and Confession

Before the sheriff arrives, Eben returns to the farm and confesses both his love for Anna and his own role in the infant's death. His confession exposes the full truth and binds him to the consequences of their actions. The old man's moral judgment intensifies the looming reckoning.

Ephraim's Condemnation

The old man condemns them both, calls out God, and remains resolute that the farm shall not be left to any of them. His final stance marks the collapse of his control and signals the farm's uncertain fate. The siblings’ earlier scheming now seems hollow against his moral outrage.