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nd evil. They have good and bad end-resultsrespectively, which conveys the moral implication of rewarding virtue and punishingvice, and finally the good people win the overwhelming victory. In The Mysteries ofUdolpho, Emily’s parents are both dead and her family property is misappropriated byothers. Eventually Emily, the representative of good, wins the victory, though she isdeprived of economic source and freedom of action by her evil and violent uncle. InStrange Interlude, there are obvious Gothic themes, such as revenge, love, murder,promiscuity, inner contradiction, etc., which are interwoven and interconnected. Thischapter tries to analyze the Gothic themes in Strange Interlude from the followingthree aspects: revenge, deformed love, and the conflicts between individuals andsociety.

5.1 Revenge
Revenge is the eternal theme of Gothic writings. Traditional Gothic worksusually focus on the dark theme of murder or revenge, reflecting the everlastingconflicts between good and evil in human nature. In Strange Interlude, Nina’s revengeholds a central position. With exquisite skills, O’Neill shows the whole process ofNina’s change from her father’s little girl to a cruel and irrational avenger, under thedevastation of social rules and norms. When Nina is young, she often sits on herfather’s lap and cuddles against him, then she falls into sleep and has a dream in herfather’s warm hugs, thus it can be said that Nina is her father’s little girl. She alwaysobeys her father and never does the things against her father’s will, therefore, whenprofessor Leeds disapproves her marriage with Gordon before he goes to the war,Nina has no other choice but to obey her father. Unfortunately, Gordon dies in the war,from then on, Nina has changed totally; her loss of lover transforms her goodness intoevilness. The original obedient Nina begins to take her revenge on her father and thesociety.
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Conclusion

As a great humanistic playwright, Eugene O’Neill is keenly concerned aboutthe social and moral development of his country, which is mirrored in his plays.Strange Interlude is created in the 1920s, that is, after the First World War; there aresurely many problems and crises about human existence in postwar America,therefore, O’Neill chooses a radical way -- Gothic style to show his deep concernabout humanity and morality. This thesis focuses on the Gothic style of StrangeInterlude, going deeply into the inner hearts of man through the analyses of Gothicenvironment, Gothic plots, Gothic characters, and Gothic themes.The most important element of Gothic writings may be the terrifying andmysterious atmosphere. Professor Leeds’ home is like a jail; Professor Leeds andNina who live there are greatly depressed for a long period of time. They can nevercommunicate with each other effectively, eventually the depressed atmosphere in thishouse leads to Nina’s leaving home and Professor Leeds’ death. Evans’ Mansion isindeed like a tomb, and people living in it are as dreadful as it is. The stifling andterrifying atmosphere of this house makes Nina feel that this house is obviouslyhaunted. She sinks deeper and deeper into the thrilling atmosphere in this house,making her even on the brink of collapse. By using Gothic environmentalconstruction, O’Neill perfectly reveals the distorted souls of the characters, and alsoreveals the disorder and absurdity of American society at that time.O’Neill also employs s