Completed after O’Neill received the Nobel Prize in Literature, Long Day’s Journey into Night is a four-Act, epic American family tragedy, blending realistic subject matter with a naturalistic exploration of the limits of personal freedom, heightened by a symbolic use of fog, and an expressionistic use of light and sound effects, creating a dream-like atmosphere. The play is considered one of the greatest tragedies of the twentieth century.
O’Neill recounts the story of one day in the life of the Tyrones. Set in August 1912 and based on events in O’Neill’s life, the play is the dramatic culmination of O’Neill’s theatrical life, the work of a mature artist who had honed his craft well beyond his several …
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Citation: Herrmann, Eileen. "Long Day's Journey Into Night". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 05 December 2012 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=3914, accessed 24 November 2024.]
