Reviews for Long Day's Journey into Night

The average rating for Long Day's Journey into Night based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-03-08 00:00:00 Joaquin Perez Jr *Read for class* Nope not a fan

Review # 2 was written on 2008-10-22 00:00:00 Norm Slack "How could you believe me'when I can't believe myself ? I've become such a liar." Eugene O'Neill ~~ LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (IIii) I believe Eugene O'Neill's LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT to be the greatest American play ever written, as well as the greatest play of the 20th century. It fascinates me that as most playwright's talents wane as they age, O'Neill's grew stronger with each passing year. To have written LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, THE ICEMAN COMETH, A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN, and HUGHIE at the end of his life is a testament to his talent. Writing these plays must have been pure hell for O'Neill. He wrote in longhand, suffering a severe Parkinsons-like tremor in his hands which was extremely painful. It was impossible for him to write during the last 10 years of his life. I can only imagine the works he would have produced had this affliction not robbed us of his talent. LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT focuses on James Tyrone, an aging actor, Mary, his morphine-addicted wife, Edmund and Jamie, their two adult sons, both alcoholics. Eugene O'Neill, his brother Jamie, and his father James on the porch of Monte Cristo Cottage in New London, their summer home. Random thoughts ~~ LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT is a ghost play; it is more memory than reality. As the light moves from day to night during the course of this long painful day, the fog seems to seep through the walls. The foghorn a constant reminder of old sorrows. As Mary says, "The past is the present, isn't it? It's the future, too." (IIii) James & Mary Ella O'Neill, Eugene O'Neill's parents LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT is not a linear play. Yes, the action moves from day to night, but as the dialogue becomes fueled more and more by whiskey and morphine, the past is repeated over and over again, becoming more vicious, more accusatory. There are four addicts living in this house, not one. But Mary's addiction leaves her isolated. Drinking is socially acceptable, drug addiction is not. Drug addiction is mysterious. Morphine separates Mary from her family. Mary's addiction is dirty. Mary is a master of deceit. She even acknowledges this. Each and everyone of the Tyrones is fascinating, and each is brilliantly written, complex and real. We know these people. Again, the past is the present. Mary is the most fascinating of the Tyrones. She controls and manipulates every moment while she is on stage. Yet, Mary is barely in control of herself. Mary is cruel in ways the others are not. She attacks like a cornered feline. O'Neill's language, so simple, so powerful. As James says, Edmund does have a touch of the poet in him. Eugene O'Neill At the close of the play, all four of the Tyrones are still on stage lost in the past ~~ Mary's past. "Then in the spring something happened to me. Yes, I remember. I fell in love with James Tyrone and was so happy for a time." (IV) It is one of the most beautiful moments in the history of theatre.