The Great Divide

The Great Divide is a prose play written by William Vaughn Moody, first performed in 1906. The play explores the conflict between the puritanical values of the eastern United States and the spirit of individualism found on the western frontier. Moody's work, including this play, was considered a sign of unfulfilled promise due to his early death at age 41. While Moody's earlier works were poetic, The Great Divide marked a shift in his style, making him one of the most promising writers of his time. The term "great divide" itself can also refer to a significant point of division, specifically death.12