Family Disintegration in Long Day’s Journey into Night

Abstract

Family relationships are some of the most prominent motifs in drama because the family unit is a microcosm of society and is among its essential pillars. Several American dramatists use real-life events of American families in their works. They intend their plays to be a useful corrective force to afford people a closer look into themselves and consequently elicit positive change. The study is an analytical historical investigation of the theme of family disintegration in Eugene O’Neill’s “Long Day’s Journey into Night.” It approaches the American family motif from different perspectives. Specifically, it deals with how the Tyrone family is represented, the reasons behind its disintegration, the role of parents in its breakup, the effect of the external surrounding conditions on the family, and the influence of the playwright’s personal life and background on his play.