55 pages • 1 hour read
Eugene O'NeillLong Day's Journey Into Night
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1956A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Long Day’s Journey Into Night by Eugene O’Neill depicts a single day in 1912 at the Tyrone family's summer home, where parents James and Mary and their sons, Jamie and Edmund, struggle with deep-seated issues. Mary battles morphine addiction, while Edmund's illness and Jamie's perceived laziness exacerbate familial tensions. As the day progresses, arguments flare, revealing years of trauma, financial struggles, and unspoken grievances. This play includes discussions of addiction to drugs and alcohol, as well as references to suicidal ideation and child loss.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night is lauded for its raw, autobiographical exploration of family dynamics and addiction. Critics commend its emotional depth and complex characters, though some find its relentless gloom challenging. The play's powerful performances and poignant dialogue make it a memorable, if heavy, theatrical experience.
Who Should Read Long Day's Journey Into Night?
A reader who enjoys Long Day's Journey Into Night by Eugene O'Neill likely appreciates intense family dramas and psychological depth akin to Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman or Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. They savor intricate character studies and explorations of personal and familial struggles.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
NP0L