and suffering. He forces his sons to work like slaves on the rocky farm. His pride and authority crush their hearts. The farm becomes a prison, not a home. Because of his cruelty, the sons see him as an enemy, not a loving father. O’Neill presents Cabot as a symbol of heartless power.

Simeon and Peter’s Rebellion: Simeon and Peter, Cabot’s elder sons, are tired of their father’s control. They work day and night but get no love or reward. They say, 

“Here—stones atop o’ stones.” 

These words show their hopeless life. They dream of freedom in California’s gold fields. Their plan to sell their share of the farm and leave is a quiet rebellion against their father’s rule. They prefer a hard but free life over slavery under Cabot’s command.

Eben’s Hatred and Desire for Revenge: Eben’s relationship with Cabot is the most bitter. He believes that Cabot killed his mother by overworking her. He says, 

“Didn't he slave Maw t' death?”

His heart burns with anger and revenge. When Cabot marries Abbie, Eben feels more insulted. His love for Abbie begins as revenge against his father. O’Neill shows Eben as a son destroyed by pain and hate. His revenge finally destroys both him and his father’s peace, turning their lives into tragedy.

Abbie’s Arrival and Family Conflict: The arrival of Abbie, Cabot’s young wife, deepens the family conflict. She becomes a reason for hatred between father and son. Cabot sees her as a reward for his labor, while Eben sees her as a chance for revenge. She says, 

“Let me kiss ye, Eben! I’ll be everythin’ she was t’ ye!”  

Her presence adds jealousy and confusion. Through Abbie, O’Neill shows how broken family bonds lead to sin and suffering.

Loneliness and Final Realization: Ultimately, Cabot comes to realize his loneliness and the failure of his fatherhood. When Abbie and Eben are arrested, he says sadly,

“God’s lonesome, hain’t He? God’s hard an’ lonesome.” 

These words show his regret. His sons have left him, and his pride has given him nothing but emptiness. O’Neill ends the play with deep sadness. The broken relationship between father and sons becomes a symbol of human isolation caused by greed and pride.

In termination, we can say that O’Neill shows the tragic bond between a father and his sons. Cabot’s pride and hardness destroy love and unity. The sons rebel, hate, and leave him alone. The play proves that without love and understanding, family ties turn into pain. O’Neill’s tragic family reflects the dark side of human passion, greed, and generational conflict.