___________________________________________________________________________ 120 Dinamika Bahasa dan Ilmu Budaya, Vol.4 , No.2, Juli 2010 INFANTICIDE IN O’NEILL’S DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS Sarif Syamsu Rizal Dian Nuswantoro University Abstract This study aims to discuss “Infanticide in Eugene O’Neill’s Desire under the Elms” as an alternative understanding of literary text- oriented approach. The study explores O’Neill’s Desire under the Elms through analyzing its interrelated intrinsic elements within such as character, conflict, setting, and theme This study examines the intrinsic elements O’Neill’s Desire under the Elms by applying structural approach. The series of analysis is conducted to find out the description of two protagonists, finding out the conflicts happened among them, finding out the setting by describing environment, and finding out the theme referring to the previous problems. Finally, the result of this study shows the motives, based on the focusing on character, conflict, and setting, driving to practice infanticide done by Abbei in Eugene O’Neill’s Desire under the Elms. Keywords: infanticide, protagonist, conflict, motives A. INTRODUCTION The phenomenon of infanticide is as old as many cultures, and has likely accounted for millions of selective deaths throughout history. It is the act of killing a baby. It remains a critical concern in a number of countries today, notably the two most populous countries on earth. In all cases, specifically infanticide reflects the low status accorded to women in most parts of the world. It is arguably the most brutal and destructive manifestation of the societies. It is the intentional killing of baby due to some specific preferences. It is a specific crime equivalent to manslaughter that can only be committed by the mother intentionally killing her own baby during the first twelve months of its life; in other cultures, the concept of infanticide includes the intentional killing of children older than twelve months. The practice of infanticide has been within multiple cultural and historical contexts. Anthropologist Laila Williamson notes that "Infanticide has been practiced on every continent and by people on every level of cultural complexity, from hunter gatherers to high civilizations, including our own ancestors. Rather than being an exception, then, it has been the rule."(1978: 61-75). In ancient history, child sacrifice, the ritualistic killing of children in order to please supernatural beings, was far more common in ancient history than in present times. Carthaginians, descendants of the Phoenicians, sacrificed infants to their gods. (1991: 22-23) The United States in North America ranked eleventh for infants less than one year killed, and fourth for