Ah, Wilderness - Meaning of the Title of the Work The title of the work, Ah, Wilderness, by Eugene O'Neill, plays a significant role in understanding the work . The "wilderness" is used as a metaphor for the period of a male's life when he is no longer a boy, but not yet a man. This play tells the story of Richard's coming of age and the evolution he undergoes as he becomes a man. The "wildness" used in the title is a metaphor for the years between childhood and adulthood. Life, for a man, is like the forest. When one is a boy, he is in a clearing. Everything that is said by adults is taken as truth, and thanks to this trust the truth appears clear. As we enter the middle years, the truth is no longer so clear. The developing mind begins to question the notions held by those in control, parents in particular. This period is like a desert in which one must wander. When you come out of the woods things become clear again. One no longer feels the need to wander aimlessly in the darkness and usually returns to the truths instilled by one's parents. Richard begins the play as a boy on the brink of adulthood. A young scholar, just beginning to sow the seeds of rebellion, at first feels no need to rebel against the things at hand. This soon changes with a visit to her father from Richard's girlfriend's father. Richard has been sending poems to Muriel, his girlfriend, and her father sees the subject of this poem as inappropriate. Unbeknownst to Richard, Muriel was forced to write him a letter breaking off the relationship. Richard is so heartbroken that he rebels against everything. This moment is the point where Richard enters the "wilderness". The perfect opportunity to try ... middle of paper ... uncomfortable side glances, and prepare for what is coming." Richard has returned to his previous way of thinking. He now states "(With his head lowered humbly. ) I know I've been a damned fool" (844). Richard, over the course of the play, makes the transition from childhood to adulthood. As with most young people, Richard enters the "wilderness," a metaphor for the rebellion phase, and walks away with no lasting scars. Richard's father, like most parents, realizes that Richard has come out of the wilderness and states: ". . . I don't think we'll ever have to worry about him being safe, from himself, again. And I guess whatever life throws at him, he can deal with it now" (845). This statement shows the necessity of wilderness for man's evolution and the importance of a father's understanding during this important stage of life's development..