Coming-of-Age
The central plot revolves around 16-year-old Richard Miller's journey into adulthood and first experiences with love, literature, alcohol, and rebellion against his family's values. This mirrors O'Neill's own turbulent youth and desire to break free from convention.

Nostalgia and Idealization
"Ah, Wilderness!" represents O'Neill's nostalgic reimagining and idealization of his own childhood and family life. The play depicts the happy, middle-class Miller family that O'Neill wished he had had.

Alcohol and Societal Attitudes
The play explores contemporary attitudes towards alcohol consumption, portraying Richard's drunken escapades and his uncle Sid's alcoholism. This reflected the era's discourse around Prohibition and alcoholism's devastating effects.

Autobiographical Elements
While not strictly autobiographical, the play contains many parallels to O'Neill's life - the New England setting, a literature-loving adolescent protagonist, an alcoholic uncle, and a turbulent family dynamic. O'Neill drew inspiration from his childhood home in New London and his relationships with his brother and father.

In essence, "Ah, Wilderness!" allowed O'Neill to nostalgically revisit his youth through a comedic, idealized lens while commenting on societal issues of the time.

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