James Tyrone probably has one of the toughest roles in the entire family, and though his moment of realization does not make life any easier, he does learn a fundamental lesson. Considering his wife’s morphine addiction and the pressure from his recalcitrant son’s monetary needs, James puts up a rather good fight against fate. With his past poverty, James’ thriftiness comes as no surprise, but to his famil

y members, it seems like a small excuse for what they believe his penny pinching has cost them. His epiphany comes when playing cards with Edmund as an attempt to forget their sorrows. James speaks of how people once considered him one of the most promising young actors in all of America. With the occasional attempt at the continuation of the card game, he talks about how he seized the opportunity to play a romantic role when he realized how well he could do it, as well as how well it paid. Finally, he brings his life into perspective when he says, “I don’t know what the hell it was I wanted to buy. On my solemn oath, Edmund, I’d gladly face not having an acre of land to call my own, nor a penny in the bank—I’d be willing to have no home but the poorhouse in my old age if I could look back now on having been the fine artist I might have been” (151). Alas, it takes James so long to realize what truly matters to him. Whereas the money that he so eagerly hoards has no meaning, the acting talent that he so regrettably loses means everything. Perhaps because of the loss of something so precious, James turns to caring for the money that he believes cost him his dream. The selfishness James displayed during Edmund’s birth as well as his continuous thriftiness finally provides perspective for him. James learns that his attachment does not involve his money directly, but instead the cost of the vision that once might have existed. Obviously, James’s epiphany does not go disregarded since he says, “You can choose any place you like! Never mind what it costs! Any place that I can afford” (148). Though says this before his epiphany, the fact still stands that he challenges the selfishness within himself. Soon after, James’ son, Jamie follows his father’s example, whether knowingly or not, when he spills his thoughts to Edmund.

None of the Tyrone’s epiphanies comprises of much happiness, and Edmund’s instance of revelation does not break with the trend. Soon after the moment of James’ epiphany, Edmund starts sharing some of the highlights of his life. Talking of his sea voyages, Edmunds begins to encroach on philosophical grounds. Finally, trying to make his father understand his feelings, Edmund says, “It was a great mistake, my being born a man, I would have been much more successful as a sea gull or a fish. As it is, I will always be a stranger who never feels at home, who does not really want an

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