QUOTES:
-“It’s the foghorn I hate. It won’t let you alone. It keeps reminding you, and warning you, and calling you back.” -Mary Tyrone, pg. 101
-“No, I know you can’t help thinking it’s a home.” -Mary Tyrone in reference to James and the Tao House, pg. 77
-“Oh, we all realize why you like him [Dr. Hardy], James! Because he’s cheap!” -Mary Tyrone, pg. 76
-”A stinking old miser. Well, maybe you’re right. Maybe I can’t help being, although all my life since I had anything I’ve thrown money over the bar to buy drinks for everyone in the house, or loaned money to sponges I knew would never pay it back--.” -James Tyrone, pg. 149
-”It would be like a curse she can’t escape if worry over Edmund--It was in her long sickness after bringing him into the world that she first--.” -James Tyrone, pg. 39
VEHICLES:
-paradox between James and Jamie in their father-son relationship, similarities
-symbolism of Tao House: representative of James’s cheapness, the tentativeness of the Tyrones’ home situation
-setting: is at root of many of Mary’s problems, family’s dysfunctions (temporary housing, darkness)
-allusion: Tyrone’s constant allusions to Shakespeare in relation to his sons shows that he thinks of them as failures and that he wishes they’d turned out differently; he thinks they are wasting their lives and becoming nothing.
CONFLICTS:
-James and Jamie constantly butt head because they are too much alike; James sees the negative aspects of his character in his son, and Jamie sees very little to live up to in his father.
-Mary is resentful towards James because falling in love with him is what kept her from achieving her dream of being either a nun or a concert pianist.
-Edmund is bitter towards James because his frugality made his mother sick and threatens to kill him if James won’t pay to send him to a good sanitorium.
SUBJECTS:
-vacillation
-blame
-regret
THEMES:
-The dysfunctions of a family as a result of inter-relational conflicts harms the members of that family and leads them down a path of uncertainty, regret, and blame.
-People who are unable to move out of the past due to regret will experience feelings of hopelessness and failure that will keep them from succeeding in life.
PLOT LINE SUMMARY:
The Tyrone family experiences much turmoil when its matriarch, Mary, becomes ill again; she is a morphine addict and has relapsed. A cycle of blame results: the family blames James, the patriarch, and his penny-pinching ways for sending Mary to a cheap sanitorium when her illness first surfaced after the birth of Edmund; the family members subconsciously blame Edmund for causing Mary’s illness, but refrain from truly allowing themselves to believe that because it is unfair; Jamie and Edmund blame their father for not setting a good example for them; and Mary blames James for keeping her from realizing her true potential in life.
TITLE SIGNIFICANCE:
The title embodies the fact that the entire story takes place over one day; the Tyrones’ hope fades into blackness as quickly as the day fades into night.
MAJOR CHARACTERS:
-James Tyrone
-Mary Tyrone
-Jamie Tyrone
-Edmund Tyrone
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Long Day's Journey into Night: Setting & Paradox
In O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night, setting plays an integral role in the dynamics of the Tyrone family. James Tyrone is always too cheap to purchase a home for his family, so they travel from cheap hotel to cheap hotel, spending the summers in the Tao House. This constant sense of upheaval and temporary stays leaves Mary Tyrone feeling as if she never has a home. It creates yet another point of contention between her and James; his frugality has not only affected his family health-wise, but mentally as well. The darkness of the Tao House due to James’s constant extinguishing of the lights to save money is representative of the feelings of each member of the Tyrone family. They are depressed, trapped in a never-ending cycle of disappointment, and do not see any light at the end of the tunnel to provide them with hope. James has always been miserly, even when it comes to the health and well-being of his wife and children, and he always will be. Mary sees herself as a failure and feels that her time to change has passed her by. Jamie and Edmund do not have any example from their father to live up to and feel like failures even as young men. In these ways, the tentativeness and darkness of the Tyrone family’s housing situation are the root causes of much of their discontentment in life.
O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night contains a strong paradox between James Tyrone and his elder son, Jamie. As James’s son, and especially as his first son and namesake, Jamie feels the need to live up to his father and even exceed his success, yet he has very little to aspire to. James’s various failures and shortcomings give Jamie very little hope for his own future since he is so much like his father; it is this very similarity that causes so much disagreement and turmoil between the two. James sees his son following the same path as he did, and does not wish to see this replication of himself as it brings him shame and regret. These feelings of failure and hopelessness lead both men to see in the other what they do not want to be; even as that is their reality, they are not able to face it.
O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night contains a strong paradox between James Tyrone and his elder son, Jamie. As James’s son, and especially as his first son and namesake, Jamie feels the need to live up to his father and even exceed his success, yet he has very little to aspire to. James’s various failures and shortcomings give Jamie very little hope for his own future since he is so much like his father; it is this very similarity that causes so much disagreement and turmoil between the two. James sees his son following the same path as he did, and does not wish to see this replication of himself as it brings him shame and regret. These feelings of failure and hopelessness lead both men to see in the other what they do not want to be; even as that is their reality, they are not able to face it.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Long Day's Journey Into Night Mini Research Paper
Authors often choose to focus their works on events that have occurred in their own lives in order to record their experiences. They can make sense of them by writing them out, and portray the events in the context of a character’s life. Authors who choose to do this have usually lived through situations which are difficult or remarkable in some way, and that are easily related to by readers who may find themselves in the same place. Eugene O’Neill lived a life of instability and difficulties which doubtlessly led him to his life as writer and, therefore, to the autobiographical writing in his play Long Day’s Journey Into Night, in which O’Neill portrays a day in the life of the Tyrone family. The Tyrones are modeled after O’Neill’s family, with James and Mary Tyrone representing his parents and their children representing himself in various ways.
O’Neill’s presence in his work is not outright, but easily implied through the experiences of his characters. He is seen as portraying himself in two different ways throughout the play: as his older self, viewing from afar, and his younger self, symbolized by Edmund Tyrone (Mann). The purpose of this dual existence is to unite and reconcile the older O’Neill with his younger self. Edmund Tyrone’s very existence and role in his family is representative of those of O’Neill; he is responsible for his mother’s relapse into illness and drug use, and as the author, too had a drug-addicted mother, readers may infer that he carries some guilt for her problems. Just as Mary’s issues influenced Edmund, so too did those of O’Neill’s mother influence her son; his very view of life and the human condition were shaped by her suffering, which in turn influenced his writing.
In the play, O’Neill is an “unseen narrator” (Mann) who, as an adult, shifts his view of his family. While growing up under their influence, he saw himself as their victim; as a more mature, experienced adult, O’Neill sees that they, in fact, were victims of fate itself and that his early life led to his later career (Mann). James O’Neill, father of the author, is a miserly actor whose actions and principles convinced his son to subscribe to and maintain his own parameters in relation to his writing; he is represented in the play by James Tyrone. O’Neill had an older brother who was self-destructive and introduced his younger brother to the influential writings of controversial figures at the time, much like Jamie Tyrone. The suffering of O’Neill’s drug-addicted mother shaped his opinions on human life as a somewhat negative experience; the shortcomings of Mary Tyrone has a similar effect on her children (Mann).
The actions and behaviors of each of the Tyrones has an effect on every other member of the family. Edmund’s birth led to Mary’s sickness, James’s miserly ways led to her morphine addiction, James’s bad example led to his son Jamie’s discontentment with his life and the fact that he has nothing to live up to; all of these feelings coalesce to create a dysfunctional, discontented family unit made up of people who blame each other for their problems. Edmund blames his father’s cheapness for Mary’s addiction by accusing him: “It never should have gotten a hold on her! I know damned well she's not to blame! And I know who is! You are! Your damned stinginess! If you'd spent money for a decent doctor when she was so sick after I was born, she'd never have known morphine existed!” (O’Neill 140). The fact that O’Neill’s parents fit the same descriptions as James and Mary Tyrone leads readers to conclude that O’Neill himself places the same blame on his own father for his mother’s addiction. It is through the author’s blatant representation of his own family members by the Tyrones that readers are able to infer the more private issues of the family through those that of the Tyrones. Mary’s addiction to drugs led Edmund to his feelings of loneliness and his desire of solitude, as expressed through his being “dissolved in the sea” (O’Neill 156) much as O’Neill’s mother’s addiction led him to those same conclusions about abandonment and loneliness, a representation of the human condition and recognition of human limitations and shortcomings (Mann).
O’Neill’s usage of his play as a portrayal of his own life is effective as it centers on a theme of human suffering. This theme is universal to all people and easy for leaders to relate to; it is easy for readers to sympathize with the characters and, therefore, the author himself. As O’Neill’s presence in the work is implied as being that of a narrator or observer, readers understand that he has come to peace with the events of his life. He is able to separate himself from them enough to objectify them as the happenings of another family, though they are directly based on those of his own. O’Neill’s comprehension of the events that led his parents to their situations in life and the way he allowed them to shape his own life gives people hope for letting negative experiences lead to positive outcomes.
Works Cited
Mann, Bruce J. "O'Neill's 'Presence' in Long Day's Journey into Night." Theatre Annual. 43.(1988) 15-30. Rpt. in Drama Criticism. Ed. Janet Witalec. Vol. 20. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 15-30. Literature Resource Center. Gale. LEE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM. 21 Sept. 2008
.
O'Neill, Eugene, and Harold Bloom. Long Day's Journey into Night. New York: Yale UP, 2002.
O’Neill’s presence in his work is not outright, but easily implied through the experiences of his characters. He is seen as portraying himself in two different ways throughout the play: as his older self, viewing from afar, and his younger self, symbolized by Edmund Tyrone (Mann). The purpose of this dual existence is to unite and reconcile the older O’Neill with his younger self. Edmund Tyrone’s very existence and role in his family is representative of those of O’Neill; he is responsible for his mother’s relapse into illness and drug use, and as the author, too had a drug-addicted mother, readers may infer that he carries some guilt for her problems. Just as Mary’s issues influenced Edmund, so too did those of O’Neill’s mother influence her son; his very view of life and the human condition were shaped by her suffering, which in turn influenced his writing.
In the play, O’Neill is an “unseen narrator” (Mann) who, as an adult, shifts his view of his family. While growing up under their influence, he saw himself as their victim; as a more mature, experienced adult, O’Neill sees that they, in fact, were victims of fate itself and that his early life led to his later career (Mann). James O’Neill, father of the author, is a miserly actor whose actions and principles convinced his son to subscribe to and maintain his own parameters in relation to his writing; he is represented in the play by James Tyrone. O’Neill had an older brother who was self-destructive and introduced his younger brother to the influential writings of controversial figures at the time, much like Jamie Tyrone. The suffering of O’Neill’s drug-addicted mother shaped his opinions on human life as a somewhat negative experience; the shortcomings of Mary Tyrone has a similar effect on her children (Mann).
The actions and behaviors of each of the Tyrones has an effect on every other member of the family. Edmund’s birth led to Mary’s sickness, James’s miserly ways led to her morphine addiction, James’s bad example led to his son Jamie’s discontentment with his life and the fact that he has nothing to live up to; all of these feelings coalesce to create a dysfunctional, discontented family unit made up of people who blame each other for their problems. Edmund blames his father’s cheapness for Mary’s addiction by accusing him: “It never should have gotten a hold on her! I know damned well she's not to blame! And I know who is! You are! Your damned stinginess! If you'd spent money for a decent doctor when she was so sick after I was born, she'd never have known morphine existed!” (O’Neill 140). The fact that O’Neill’s parents fit the same descriptions as James and Mary Tyrone leads readers to conclude that O’Neill himself places the same blame on his own father for his mother’s addiction. It is through the author’s blatant representation of his own family members by the Tyrones that readers are able to infer the more private issues of the family through those that of the Tyrones. Mary’s addiction to drugs led Edmund to his feelings of loneliness and his desire of solitude, as expressed through his being “dissolved in the sea” (O’Neill 156) much as O’Neill’s mother’s addiction led him to those same conclusions about abandonment and loneliness, a representation of the human condition and recognition of human limitations and shortcomings (Mann).
O’Neill’s usage of his play as a portrayal of his own life is effective as it centers on a theme of human suffering. This theme is universal to all people and easy for leaders to relate to; it is easy for readers to sympathize with the characters and, therefore, the author himself. As O’Neill’s presence in the work is implied as being that of a narrator or observer, readers understand that he has come to peace with the events of his life. He is able to separate himself from them enough to objectify them as the happenings of another family, though they are directly based on those of his own. O’Neill’s comprehension of the events that led his parents to their situations in life and the way he allowed them to shape his own life gives people hope for letting negative experiences lead to positive outcomes.
Works Cited
Mann, Bruce J. "O'Neill's 'Presence' in Long Day's Journey into Night." Theatre Annual. 43.(1988) 15-30. Rpt. in Drama Criticism. Ed. Janet Witalec. Vol. 20. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 15-30. Literature Resource Center. Gale. LEE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM. 21 Sept. 2008
O'Neill, Eugene, and Harold Bloom. Long Day's Journey into Night. New York: Yale UP, 2002.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
College Essay
College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA): What led you to choose the area(s) of academic interest that you have listed in your application to the University of Michigan? If you are undecided, what areas are you most interested in, and why?
When I was eight years old, someone asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up; I replied that I wanted to help people. At the age of 15, I realized that my favorite thing to do on summer afternoons was watch shows and read articles about forensic scientists and investigators solving perplexing crimes, so I began to seriously consider a career in forensics. Filled with a great sense of satisfaction when the family of a murder victim would finally see justive served for their loved one, I saw that I could help people through forensic work. I was also fascinated by the processes of such work and could see myself reaching my greatest potential with a job in which I could do those things every day. Recently, I’ve also developed interests in the workings of law and psychology, and I was excited to discover that I could bring together these passions as well as my desire to work in forensics by majoring in Sociology with a concentration in Law, Criminology, and Deviance at the University of Michigan. Even better was the fact that my most desired minor would be beneficial to this particular major. By persuing a major in Sociology, I will be working towards having the career which I believe will fulfill me. With the multi-faceted education of a Sociology major, I will also have options should I decide in the future that a different career is better for me. I feel very fortunate that my deepest interests will help me to realize my longtime goal of helping people as best I can; I will be able to do the work I love, and love its results.
When I was eight years old, someone asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up; I replied that I wanted to help people. At the age of 15, I realized that my favorite thing to do on summer afternoons was watch shows and read articles about forensic scientists and investigators solving perplexing crimes, so I began to seriously consider a career in forensics. Filled with a great sense of satisfaction when the family of a murder victim would finally see justive served for their loved one, I saw that I could help people through forensic work. I was also fascinated by the processes of such work and could see myself reaching my greatest potential with a job in which I could do those things every day. Recently, I’ve also developed interests in the workings of law and psychology, and I was excited to discover that I could bring together these passions as well as my desire to work in forensics by majoring in Sociology with a concentration in Law, Criminology, and Deviance at the University of Michigan. Even better was the fact that my most desired minor would be beneficial to this particular major. By persuing a major in Sociology, I will be working towards having the career which I believe will fulfill me. With the multi-faceted education of a Sociology major, I will also have options should I decide in the future that a different career is better for me. I feel very fortunate that my deepest interests will help me to realize my longtime goal of helping people as best I can; I will be able to do the work I love, and love its results.
as long as I am covered
this night, I dream of fear
my day begins, curled up, trying to stay hidden
I wake and see my walls around me
I am safe as long as I am covered
they say it's the day
let's celebrate, relax, unwind, let go a little
even a day like this
does not altogether alleviate anxiety
this day, I dream of winter chills
leaves turning red, orange, yellow, brown
winds forcing one into a warm retreat
a small materialistic dream realized in a coat
what is it that has gone wrong now?
I think of death, injury, regret, dreading what comes next
when the only worry is time, not mine and not expired
and I've forgotten to enjoy the present
answers will come in time
and things will fall into place
I am surrounded by comfort and stability
and I am safe as long as I am covered
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