LDJIN Essay, Bio

Authors often draw upon personal experiences and beliefs when creating literary works. This tendency allows for a deeper look inside the author’s life and understanding of their way of thinking. A quote by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche states, “Poets are shameless with their experiences: they exploit them.” Largely influenced by his dysfunctional family, O’Neill manifests this quote in his autobiographical play, Long Days Journey into Night.

O’Neill’s own dysfunctional family provides the framework for that of the fictional Tyrones. Like James Tyrone, James O’Neill immigrated to the United States from Irish and became a talented Shakespearean stage actor, only to trade opportunity for stability and monetary gain. O’Neill’s mother, Ella, was the daughter of a wealthy father. She was educated at a convent and highly regarded for her piano playing skills. She abandoned her plans of becoming a nun however once she fell in love with the star of The Count of Monte Cristo, James O’Neill (Shuman). James and Mary Tyrone are virtually exact replicas of O’Neill’s biological parents. This autobiographical element shows the immense impact O’Neill’s family had on his life. Ella O’Neill later gave birth to a son, Edmund, who died before the age two due to measles supposedly caught from his older brother Jamie. The blame placed on Jamie for this death forever plagued his continence and contributed to his alcoholism and financial dependency on his father. After a long, painful labor Ella O’Neill gave birth to her third son, Eugene. James sent her to a cheap sanatorium where she became addicted to morphine (Shuman). This addiction, coupled with the premature death of her second son haunts the entire family for the rest of their lives.

Eugene O’Neill led an extremely tormented and sickly life both physically and emotionally. He had several failed relationships with both his wives and his children. He spent much of his time traveling as a sailor and drinking in bars. He attempted suicide but was revived. In 1912 he developed tuberculosis and was sent to a cheap sanatorium by his father. He discharged himself after just three days and moved to a better one. It was here that he decided to commit himself entirely to his writing. O’Neill underwent yet another depression when his father, mother, and brother all died within three years of each other. While grieving for nearly two decades he created Long Days Journey into Night (Shuman). O’Neill uses his family to create this tragedy while placing himself in the work as well.

While O’Neill stays true to life like descriptions of his own family while creating the Tyrones, he alters the character of Edmund by welding himself and his late brother together. Both Edmund and Eugene love poetry, writing, the sea, and fog, and have attempted suicide. However, in the play, Edmund Tyrone is the second son, and it is the third son, Eugene Tyrone, who dies as a baby. Edmund dies prematurely as well after he develops consumption. The death of Edmund Tyrone manifests Eugene O’Neill’s emotional death and desire to be physically dead.

The authenticity of O’Neill’s drama adds to its intensity by creating a situation many can relate to on an individual level. Both O’Neill and his idol, Nietzsche, use the idea of eternal recurrence in literature to show how the universe is cyclical and consequently, applicable to all real life situations.

Works Cited:
Shuman, R. Baird. Great American Writers: Twentieth Century. Marshal Cavendish, 2002.