The husband, Alfred, is intentionally kept off stage because Eugene O'Neill wanted the Plot, Action, and Conflict in "Before Breakfast" to revolve around Mrs. Rowland. The plot is not intended to show the life story of the Rowland's. But instead, the plot brings out powerful and greatly focused opposition and conflict which Mrs. Rowland is faced with. I think that O'Neill wanted to bring about disturbing emotions of pity and horror. We experience pity for Mrs. Rowland when the author wrights "What is she going to do-have the child-or go to one of those doctors?" And the horror is at the end when the author writes "Did you cut yourself again? ... Alfred! Alfred! Answer me! What is it you knocked over? Are you still drunk? ... Alfred!" We know with out seeing Alfred that he has cut his throat; this changes the sce

The setting affects the reader's understanding that the Rowland's are living in poverty also the descriptions of the Rowland apartment adds our understanding that Mrs. Rowland has had a rough time living with Alfred. As mentioned earlier the re-counting of the events is through Mrs. Rowland eyes so we don't know whether the age, stoutness, characterless, and pinched expression with a weak, spiteful mouth is due too Mrs. Rowland's outlook on life or if indeed Mr. Rowland was as bad as she has stated. In either case the details include in the scene establish the reality of the dramatic piece (1232).

The playwright gave Mr. Roland a first name because the use of a first name is personal, the playwright wanted to bring the human being characteristics out in the character of Alfred. The main character or the protagonist has all the human characteristics because she i

Some common words found in the essay are:
Rowland O'Neill, Alfred Answer, Conflict Breakfast, Eugene O'Neill, human characteristics, o'neill able, eugene o'neill, rowland o'neill, horror dismay, climax play, play denouement,
Approximate Word count = 584
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)