Allusion In Long Day's Journey Into Night

Allusion to Irishness in Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night The early 18th century can be seen as the beginning of the Romantic Theatre Era. That was the time also when theatres were seen as propaganda places therefore there was a lack of stable community and theatre. The Romantic Era diverged from the traditional meaning of Classical Drama therefore it could be the birth and the expansion of Modern American Drama. In 19th century theatre had already had another function which was the entertainment. Also at that time different kinds of plays appeared which were often banned or censored. Anton Chekhov and Henrik Ibsen became absolutely popular in America because they could leave behind the conventional values and tried to focus

This autobiographical play was written between 1941 and 1942. But it was published only in 1956 because the author ordered it. Long Day’s Journey Into Night is often called one of the finest American plays of the 20th century. The play takes place only on single summer day. It starts from morning through evening and ends at midnight. The setting is a summer cottage with a lot of books, called Monte Cristo, which is the home of Tyrones. The four main character can be seen as the autobiographical representations of O’Neill’s family. Mary Tyrone, the mother, who gave up his career as pianist for her husband, James Tyrone. James is an actor and they move from hotel to hotel. After his child’s birth (Edmund), Mary became a morphine addict. Edmund is suffering from tuberculosis like Eugene suffered from it in real life. Each and every character can be accused and blamed perhaps the only “clean” character is Edmund. He can be an ideal model for his brother, Jamie who spends all of his money on women and alcohol. They are always hurting each other then they feel bad, they apologize, then they say something again, they feel bad, and then apologize. The family is caught in a similar family argument cycle. Nobody can be saved but they make confessions therefore at the end of the play their suffering does not end because they live in a