A semiotic analysis is made of the six major plays by Eugene O'Neill and an attempt is made to yield a systematic analysis towards humanistic interpretations of texts. Theoretical interpretations are enriched with discussions of the plays. Technical matters such as the segmentation of the text are specified in appendices. Six semiotic dimensions have been studied: motifs, theatrical semiotic systems, their use in communicational functions, role function of the dramatis personae, their levels of awareness, and aristotelian divisions.
1. Acknowledgments; 2. List of figures; 3. List of appendices; 4. 1. Introduction: the purpose and design of this study; 5. 2. Stylistics in relation to linguistics and semiotics; 6. 3. The semiotics of the drama; 7. 4. Approaching the drama of O'Neill through semiotic stylistics; 8. 5. Establishing a controlled semiotics for the dramatic microcorpus; 9. 6. A representative segment analysis: Anna Christie I.vi; 10. 7. Concluding discussion of Desire Under the Elms; 11. 8. Concluding discussion of Long Day's Journey into Night; 12. 9. Conclusion: summary of findings at the level of the microcorpus; 13. Appendices; 14. Notes; 15. Bibliography