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Library's collection Library's IT development CancelLuigi Pirandello and Eugene O'Neill are both remarkable playwrights and
dramatists of the twentieth century. Both of them are pioneers in introducing plays
of illusions. Moreover, both are positioned and belonged to the great
quadrumvirate of the twentieth-century dramatists along with other great dramatists
and playwrights, such as, Bertold Brecht and John Millington Synge. Pirandello,
with his "life is meaningless" philosophy contributes Henry IV in the format of
"play-within'play", which has become his trademark. Meanwhile, O'Neill,
brilliant American playwright, contributes A Touch of a Poet completely with his
remarkable technique of using brogue in the dialog. Both plays introduce their
main characters as a man living under their illusory mask. Both Henry in Henry
IV and Cornelius Melody in A Touch of a Poet decide to hide their true personality
behind their illusory mask. Henry masks as Henry IV, whereas, Con Melody
masks himself in his past glory. Both main characters are facing conflicts, either
external or internal, in dealing with their own personality and the personalities of
their illusory masks. The discussion in this thesis will be focused on the main
characters' characterization to reveal their external and internal conflicts. To
achieve this goal, characterization and conflict will be used as the main tool in
order to analyze the conflicts concerning their illusions. From the analysis of the
conflict, external and internal conflicts of the main characters will be found and
will give description about the consequence of living under illusion. Henry and
Con Melody have both conflicts. Therefore, the thesis writer will analyze what
their external and their internal conflicts are. Indeed, through the analysis of both
plays on the characterization, the internal and external conflicts, the thesis writer
eventually prove the torturing conflicts that happen to the two men, who chooses to
live part of, even, the whole of their life being their illusory masks.