Context Flashcards
genre
New realism
Where was Eugene O’Neill born
In a New York City hotel room in 1888
Some facts about O’Neill
- first American playwright to receive the Nobel prize for literature
- briefly attended Princeton
- Irish decent
- 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
- Random house turned it down after hearing what O’Neill’s wishes were
- Yale university press published it in 1955
- Premiered in Sweden and opened on Broadway in 1956
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):
By the time the play is set (1912), the United States was in the midst of the Progressive Era, a period marked by significant social, political, and economic reforms aimed at addressing the problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, and corruption.
However, this time was also fill of inequality, poverty, and exploitation, which can be seen reflected in the struggles of the Tyrone family.
Social Class and Economic Struggles
The character of James 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 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.
This economic tension between the nouveau riche (new rich) and the old guard is part of the cultural landscape of the time.
Medicine/health
Tuberculosis (or consumption, as it was referred to at the time) was a major public health issue in the early 20th century.
Edmund’s diagnosis of consumption reflects the period’s medical limitations.
The disease was highly feared, and there was no effective cure until the development of antibiotics like streptomycin in the 1940s.
The Tyrone family’s experience with illness reflects the widespread precariousness and fear of death due to illness that many families faced during this time.
The Rise of the Psychoanalytic Movement:
Sigmund Freud’s theories on psychology were gaining traction during the early 20th century, influencing not only the medical community but also popular culture.
The themes of psychological trauma, family dysfunction, and the subconscious in Long Day’s Journey into Night reflect the growing interest in these topics during this period.
The play explores the unresolved emotional issues within the Tyrone family, touching on the lasting effects of trauma, addiction, and grief.
Gender
The play explores the gender dynamics of early 20th-century American society, particularly the roles of women and men within the family.
Mary Tyrone is expected to be a devoted wife and mother, but her addiction, coupled with her emotional breakdowns, challenges these expectations.
The men in the family, particularly Tyrone, hold her responsible for the breakdown of the family, yet they are emotionally distant and unable to offer the support she needs.
Religion
The Tyrone family’s complex relationship with Catholicism is also reflective of the broader social context.
Tyrone’s obsession with Catholic guilt and his self-righteous beliefs about his faith are in conflict with his sons’ more liberal views.
The tension between Catholicism and modern philosophical thought mirrors the broader cultural shifts in the early 20th century, when many people were questioning established institutions and ideas in the face of modernity.
Theatre
The early 20th century saw a shift in American theatre from melodrama and light comedy to more realistic and psychologically intense drama.
O’Neill was a key figure in this shift, and Long Day’s Journey into Night exemplifies the influence of modernist theatre, with its emphasis on deep psychological character studies and emotional realism.
The use of naturalistic dialogue and the representation of family struggles on stage was groundbreaking at the time.
O’Neill’s family
The play is semi-autobiographical, reflecting O’Neill’s own family history.
James Tyrone mirrors O’Neill’s father, a successful but emotionally distant actor.
Mary Tyrone’s addiction to morphine is based on O’Neill’s mother’s struggle with the drug after the birth of O’Neill’s brother, who died young.
O’Neill’s older brother died of measles, which profoundly impacted the family and is reflected in the guilt and grief themes in the play.
O’Neill’s own alcoholism and depression are echoed in the characters’ struggles with substance abuse and emotional turmoil.
