"The Iceman Cometh" by Eugene O"Neill.
The Iceman Cometh begins with the setting of the play. The cast of characters was staged in a saloon, the summer season of 1912. Along with the setting description was the introduction of characters. Each character's detail, unique characteristics, present condition and background was explained with the use of stage notes. The characters came from diverse places and cultures resulting to the different ways they speak. To show this distinction:.
HUGO. " Don't be a fool! Loan me a dollar! Buy me a trink!".
(Hugo pronounced drink as trink, due to his foreign accent.).
Though the diversity of the characters, they have a unified concept. The characters believe in pipe dreams. Larry Slade introduces the lie of pipe dreams, and how every one in the saloon except him believes in them (p.9-10). .
LARRY. It"ll be a great day for them tomorrow - the Feast of All Fools, with brass bands playing! Their ships will come in, loaded to the Gunwales with cancelled regrets and promises fulfilled and clean slates and new leases. (p.9).
Larry expresses amusement to the other characters" pipe dreams. The belief that tomorrow will be a new day, their fortunes will change and the accomplishment of their dreams will come true. Harry Hope's saloon is a very appropriate name for the saloon because all of the people visiting in the saloon have high hopes, believing that everything will become fine someday. Larry also describes the saloon, "as harmless as a graveyard-, because people in the saloon seem not living at all. They are constantly drunk, satisfied with their fantasies and just holding on to their dear life. They are all waiting for Hickey to arrive to join them in their slumber. .
WILLIE. "Would that Hickey or Death would come" (p.39).
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Willie connects death with the arrival of Hickey unknowingly. This could be a hint on what Hickey has in store for the cast of drunkards. Also the extreme annoyance of Parritt at the tarts (Pearl, Margie and Cora) can be noted.
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