Desire Under the Elms

A young, impulsive heir who flirts with lawless means to secure the farm. His love for Anna fuels risk-taking and violent impulses, and he is torn between filial duty and passion. His actions — including stealing money from his father to buy out his brothers — reveal a conflicted, desperate nature.

A beautiful, headstrong Italian wife who rekindles Eben's longing and becomes central to the farm's fate. Her love for Eben collides with danger as she enters an adulterous affair and bears his child. She commits to Eben even as she fears the consequences, and she ultimately plays a pivotal role in the tragedy.

A widower and ruthless New England farmer who treats the land as a legacy to be guarded at all costs. He overworked his wives, and his obsession with keeping the farm fuels the conflict between children and lovers. He condemns both Eben and Anna in the end, clinging to control until the last moment.

An elder member of the Cabot family whose death and memory linger over the farm’s history. Her presence through the farm’s legacy underscores how past owners influence present tensions. Her role is largely as a historical undertone shaping inheritance and reputation.

One of Ephraim's sons who, along with Peter, heads toward California to seek their fortune. He embodies the restless pursuit of wealth and the break from the old farmer’s grip. His relationship to the farm is defined by the choices of leaving or staying tied to the family business.

Another Cabot son who shares the family burden and the drive for a better future away from the farm. He participates in the family’s search for fortune and the internal conflict between loyalty and opportunity. He, too, is drawn into the interplay of love, land, and legacy.

A member of the Cabot family who appears in the household dynamic. Her presence highlights the social network around the farm and the expectations of women in the family. She contributes to the tension and social judgment within the community.

The mother of Eben, one of Ephraim's wives, who is dead by the time the main action unfolds. Her memory and the farm's history haunt the living characters, and her passing underlines the tragedy of a family broken by greed.

A local farmer who appears in the rural setting, reflecting the agrarian world surrounding the Cabot family. His presence underscores the community's view of the family’s fortune and status.

A local fiddler who provides rural color and atmosphere, hinting at the social scene around the farm. His music frames the mood between tension and tenderness in the story.