After reading the play "Long Day's Journey into Night" I began to question it. What am I reading? What is this play about? Who is Eugene O'Neill? After researching his life, as well as the historic and artistic contexts of this play, many of my questions were answered. Eugene O'Neill was one of the main playwrights who brought modern realism into America. I will try my hardest not to insert my own personal beliefs and or biases on this subject. But to kick this essay off, I will start with the biography of Mr. Eugene O'Neill.
Eugene Gladstone O'Neill was officially born in New York City, twelve years after his parents James and Ella were wed. He was born on the date of October 16, 1888, in the Barrett House; which was a hotel right off of Broadway. So Eugene was a true "show business" person.(Stephen A. Black) The two main characters in "Long Day's Journey into Night" were indeed named, James Tyrone, and Mary Tyrone, who in which were the parents of Edmund and Jamie Tyrone.
Eugene O'Neill
English: Birthplace of playwright Eugene O'Neill (...
English: Grave of American playwright Eugene O'Nei...Eugene O'Neill used his family as the main source for his plot of this play. O'Neill used his father James O'Neill as inspiration for character in LDJ. His mother had been born with the name of Mary Ellen Quinlan, who later married and took the last name of O'Neill. Her family had always called her Ella, and instead of using Ella for the name of "Mary" in the play he decided not to, for reasons that will be later discussed. Basically O'Neill wanted to create a play that involved his entire "dysfunctional" if you will family, and show how his life was during this time. The other two characters in LDJ were also very important to the story. Edmund...