Long Days
In the play Long Day's Journey Into Night by Eugene O'Neill, the Tyrone family is haunted not by what is present in flesh facing them, but by memories and constant reminders of what has been the downfall of the family for years. " No it can never be now. But it was once, before you-" (72) [James Tyrone referring to the Morphine addiction of his wife, Mary, which attributed to the undoing of the family]. Their trials and tribulations are well documented by O'Neill through the proficient utilization of theme, characterization, plot, setting, and style. Throughout the play, O'Neill's theme is one of a disclosure into the life of a seemingly normal family on the outside yet convoluted with bitterness on the inside. It portrays the actions of a dysfunctional family and brings us on a reflective journey from when the fledgling family had started, devoted to one another with high hopes for the future, to what it is today, a family engulfed in turmoil. "Who would have thought Jamie would grow up to disgrace us...Its such a pity...You brought him up to be a boozer." (110) In this excerpt from Mary's conversation with James regarding their son, it
James Tyrone is faced with many a problem. Through this tough time he is faced with personal, family, and financial conflicts, thus attributing to the plot. Besides having to deal with his wife's addiction, his sons' ill health and drinking problems, and his financial decisions, (which have proven to be for the worse), James struggles with a personal conflict throughout the play. He believes that he may be the cause of some of the family problems and that he has dealt with them in an improper manner. "So I'm to blame!..." (39) Throughout the play, in his reflective style of writing, O'Neill demonstrates how, in the past, all that has been said and done has had a significant influence on all that occurs in the present. The actions and statements which had been done have forever affected the Tyrone family, albeit adversely. Throughout it all, however, Mary always tries to keep a positive view and disposition. The final verse of the play is Mary reflecting on the good in her life, which ultimately manifested into bad: "Then in the spring something happened to me. Yes, I remember. I fell in love with James Tyrone and I was so happy for a tim
Some common words found in the essay are:
James Tyrone, Style O'Neill, Puritan England, Throughout Mary, O'Neill Tyrone, Blessed Virgin, Catholic I've, Primarily WASPs, throughout play, james tyrone, tyrone family, play mary, ,
Approximate Word count = 772
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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