O'Neill, Eugene (1888-1953) O'Neill was one of the first American playwrights to include the notion of realism into his works—realism that included individuals on the periphery of society, a variety of American accents and colloquialisms, and the realistic characters' deep-seated concerns. Although he began his career as a poet, O'Neill is best known for his dramatic work. He received critical acclaim for his 1900 play Moxie Kitty Kelly, which was followed by other successes including Beyond the Horizon in 1902, The Emperor's New Clothes in 1909, and Angel Street in 1916. O'Neill grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of an Irish immigrant father and mother who were struggling to make a living. His parents' divorce when he was eight years old had a profound effect on him, causing him to question authority and believe that reality is what we make it. This belief is reflected in many of his works where the main character questions the status quo in order to better understand himself and others around him. O'Neill entered Harvard University at the age of 16 but left after only a few months because he felt that he was not learning anything there that was new or different from what he had already learned from his reading. Instead, he spent his time drinking beer with his friends and going to theater productions.