Long Day's Journey into Night

BackGround information

• -Long Day's Journey into night was written in 1941 and published in 1956
• -in this time era, world war II was occurring
• -Inflation increased in america
• -Pearl Harbor attack(1941)
• -The holocaust was going on during this time
• -franklin D. roosevelt was the president

author

• Eugene O'Neill
• Died at 65.
• Born in New York City, NY.
• Other works: The First Man, Ten "Lost" Plays, The Suicide Diaries, and Three Plays

Plot

• the story is centered around the Tyrone family that consists of Mary, her husband, and their two sons, Edmund and Jamie. The Tyrone family is unique as they struggle to maintain healthy relationships it's another but face numerous obstacles along the way. The obstacles include Mary being a morphine addict, Edmund having tuberculosis, and Tyrone being frugal. Mary blames her husband for many things such as her house not feeling like a home. When her son Eugene died at a young age, Mary's husband advised her to bear another child to fill the hole in her heart. She did as he advised, but did not fill the hole in her heart. When giving birth to the child (Edmund), her husband got her a cheap doctor who gave her morphine without considering the possible consequences. Since then she has been addicted, doesn't trust doctors, and shares an unhealthy relationship with her family. The play shows how the family struggles to deal with Mary's addiction and the future of their family.

characters

• James Tyrone - Father, Stingy and Hard Worker
• Mary Tyrone - Mother, Morphine Addict
• Jamie Tyrone - Eldest Son, Dependent and Carefree
• Edmund Tyrone - Youngest Son, Deals with Tuberculosis
• Cathleen - Tyrone Family Maid, Appears often

setting

• The play takes place in the Tyrone family "home". Their home is significant as it does not feel like a home but it's closest thing they've got. Throughout the play, Mary Tyrone complains that their house does not feel like a home and blames it on her husband. It's important that the play takes place in the same house as it partially shows why she dislikes the atmosphere and her reasoning behind the house not feeling like her home.

theme 1

• Suffering: The whole plot line is based on the Tyrone family suffering. They suffer throughout the entire mainly because of problems with their past and future, which cause them sorrow and pain. Example: the family is still torn apart about their son's death and still argue about it.

theme 2

• drugs and Alcohol: The tyrone family struggles with drug and alcohol abuse which also causes many of their problems. Mary is addicted to morphine Mary is addicted to morphine while the men of the family are addicted to alcohol.

theme 3

• Communication: another prominent theme is communication, the tyrone family demonstrates horrible communication. The family does not trust each other enough, lies to each other constantly, and is constantly arguing.

important quotes

• "Yes, I remember. I fell in love with James Tyrone and was so happy for a time"(pg.158)
• "If you can't be good you can at least be careful." Act 1
• “We are such things as rubbish is made of, so let's drink up and forget it.”

rhetorical analysis

• Some symbols are morphine and alcohol. In these two things the family is able to forget all the pain caused to them. they all retreat to one of these when something is going wrong. another symbol is day and night. their family feud is never ending. this causes a repetition of actions. they fight then they regret or feel bad and so it goes on. it is also shown through the title long day's journey into night.