Eugene O'Neill

Eugene O’Neill was the nation’s first major playwright and the first to explore serious themes in theatre and to experiment with theatrical conventions.

His father James O’Neill was an actor and made a fortune playing the lead role in “The Count of Monte Cristo”, which was performed on tour many times. His mother Ella Quinlan was the daughter of a successful Irish businessman. She hated the backstage life she lived for many years and became addicted to morphine. Eugene had an older brother, James Jr., who was always away at various boarding schools but as an adult “Jamie” became an actor and an alcoholic.

During Eugene’s childhood the family toured for part of every year and lived in hotels but always spent their summers in their home in New London, Connecticut. He dropped out of college and went sailing, where he started to drink. In 1912 tuberculosis (=consumption) nearly killed him and he decided to stay sober and write plays. After a few years his plays were moved uptown from the Village to Broadway, which made O’Neill both famous and financially secure. He experimented with techniques to convey inner emo

Edmund and Jamie enter. Both of the boys seem awkward around their mother - eager to compliment and afraid they might offend. The conversation turns to teasing Tyrone about his snoring and Tyrone becomes angry. He begins picking on Jamie’s lack of direction in life, and Edmund leaps to his brother’s defence.

As soon as she is gone, Tyrone and Jamie begin to fight. Tyrone is furious that Jamie risked upsetting Mary but Jamie stands fast. Edmund, he insists, has tuberculosis. Jamie blames Tyrone’s stinginess because he continues to send Edmund to the cheapest doctor around. The talk turns to Jamie's aimless lifestyle. Tyrone accuses him of being lazy and without ambition, dependent on his wealthy parents and an ingrate as well. Tyrone defends his use of Dr. Hardy and says the man has treated Edmund since he was a child, so, cheap or not, he knows Edmund's constitution. And Tyrone blames Jamie for Edmund’s sickness. Edmund is ten years younger and looks up to Jamie like a hero. Ever since he left college, he has been trying to live a lifestyle as wild and self-destructive as his brother’s. But he does not have Jamie’s toughness and his health is suffering.

Denial: Every character is in denial about something – mainly about their drug- and alcohol abuse and Mary is furthermore in denial about Edmund’s illness. This has to do with their social consciousness. Especially Mary finds it important to keep up their appearances. They have a summerhouse in the right neighbourhood but the house is badly maintained compared to the other houses. They keep up their facades, both to each other and to society. “Keeping up appearances” has always been important to the American middle class so they by keeping a social façade are able to hide their problems.

The talk turns to Mary and Jamie accuses Tyrone of being at fault. Mary’s addiction started after Edmund’s birth, and in part because of an incompetent doctor. The two men become quiet at Mary’s approach. Mary asks what they were arguing about, and Jamie avoids answering truthfully. He and Tyrone go out to work on the lawn.

Some topics in this essay:
Mary Tyrone, Mary Jamie, Tyrone James, Broadway O’Neill, Tyrone Edmund, Shaugnessy Tyrone’s, Tyrone Jamie, Edmund Jamie, James Jamie, Journey Night”, day’s journey, day’s journey night”, eugene o’neill, journey night”, mary jamie, james tyrone, “long day’s, mary james, father james, edmund goes, jamie edmund, “long day’s journey,