genre
New realism
An emphasis on social issues and fragmented and subjective perspectives.
- social issue: addiction, dysfunctional families
- fragmented perspective: portrayal of the characters minds (rambling of mary, the fighting between themselves)
- O’Neill was an important figure in this lit movement
Some facts about Eugene O’Neill
same as tyrone
- irish descent
- raised catholic
- 1888-1953
Some facts about the play
- he wanted it published 25 years after his death
- O’Neill’s widow 3 years later gave permission to have it published
What is the set of the play?
-Takes place in the living room of the Tyrone family
-In their summer home on the New London coast of August 1912
- where O’Neill spent his own Summers with his family
The Gilded Age and Progressive Era (Late 19th Century - Early 20th Century):
- 1912: USA was in the progressive era - significant social, political, and economic reforms aimed at addressing the problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, and corruption.
- however also lots of inequality, poverty, and exploitation, which can be seen reflected in the struggles of the Tyrone family.
- american dream: the idea that you could make something of yourself from nothing - see that with Tyrone
Social Class and Economic Struggles
Tyrone - a former actor who became successful, reflects the class mobility of the time.
Although he worked hard and achieved some financial stability, his frugality (cheapness) and mismanagement of money illustrate the difficulties people faced in maintaining wealth in the early 20th century, especially for those who had come from poverty.
- all of their money is in property
economic tension between new rich and old rich - Tyrone is new rich
- associated with showing off about money, flashy, spending lots of money
Medicine/health
Tuberculosis - known as consumption because they believed it was caused by overconsuming alcohol
- TB is a really severe bacterial lung infection
- in the early 20th century, was big public health issue - quite a few people died
- Edmund’s diagnosis of consumption reflects the period’s medical limitations
- very feared and there was no cure until antibiotics were created in the 1940s
- people felt very fearful of death due to the illness
Freud + psychoanalysis
- Freud’s theories on psychology were popular during the early 20th century
- he focused on trauma, family dysfunction and the meaning of dreams
- Edmund’s quote about the bank of fog = dream he had - it’s meant to represent his deepest psychology
- family is dealing with unresolved familial trauma from addiction and grief
Gender
- early 20th century - women had less rights than men
- we can see this through Mary
- Mary is expected to be a devoted wife and mother -> symbol of the virgin mary (ideal of a mother)
- Mary’s addiction and breakdowns challenge the expectations on her to. be a perfect mother and reflect the pressures she feels in society to be a perfect mother
- men hold her responsible for the breakdown of the family whilst keeping her distant - this can reflect their gender roles to be strong, unemotional
- Tyrone holds the position of provider - heavy role for him
Religion
- Tyrone family are Catholic
- Tyrone is obsessed with catholic guilt (we are all guilty sinners) - masochistic - reflects his feelings of guilt for his family/mary - links with the wider theme of guilt
- Mary is obsessed with the virgin mary and wanted to become a nun - virgin mary = how she wants to be as a mother, perfect mother - nun = her guilt for her actions, nuns sins are cleared when they become nuns
- concept of sin is quite strong in the family
- ironic because addiction to substances like morphine and alcohol are frowned upon by the church - sins
- both of the sons show disinterest in catholicism - creates tension with them and their parents - show their absolute disillusionment with life
Theatre
- early 20th century - move from melodrama and light comedy to realistic and psychologically intense drama
- O’Neill was a very important playwright
- known as one of the fathers of realism - portraying reality as it is and characters psychologies honestly
- naturalistic dialogue - dialogue is very honest to how conversations like theirs went
– the blame passing, cycle of blame, same fights and conversations over and over again
O’Neill’s family
- is semi-autobiographical, reflecting O’Neill’s own family history.
- James Tyrone mirrors O’Neill’s father - both ex actors, emotionally distant
- Mary Tyrone is O’Neill’s mother - lost a child, addicted to morphine
- Jamie is O’Neill’s older brother Jamie - died of alcoholism
- Edmund is O’Neill - depressed, alcoholic, he got tuberculosis
- Eugene (the dead baby) is Edmund his brother - who also died of measles as child
— measles= really bad infection, used to not be curable and lead to lots of infant deaths but there is now a cure so kids rarely die
