Social Concern

Family (Chris)

It is clear that the play’s characters all have internal issues. However the family still tries to brush it off and live their normal lives instead of seeking real help. “The search for happiness will leave you unhappy” -paraphrased Buddhist quote. The family tries its best to be a normal family in regards to the american dream but ultimately fails because the american dream is unrealistic. The constant denial that they can never be normal ends up internally destroying each and every one of them with sorrow, regrets, drugs, blame, and inner turmoil. This fruitless search deeply shows how we are as a society today attempting to keep a norm we can not uphold. We ostracize those that try better themselves and we never seek help ourselves. We stay safe because actually accomplishing something is too much to ask from the common man. All we can do is keep our image and forever reminisce on what could have been because doing something risky jeopardizes are precious “American Dream”.  

Women (Gillian)

    There are only three women in the play, Bridget the cook, the second girl Cathleen and Mary Cavan Tyrone, the head woman in the house (the wife of James Tyrone). During the time the play was written and published in, a woman's role (in the 1950s to 60s) was to be a caring mother, a diligent homemaker and an obedient wife. Although Mary is a housewife, her servants Cathleen and Bridget did the majority of the housework. On top of that her sons are both grown adults that she can no longer baby. With nothing to do, Mary is left to sit alone at the hotel room or the summer home. Mary is also suffering the death of her second child Eugene Tyrone. O’Neill leaves no room for Mary to be a proper mother and so her anxiety, etc. leads to her morphine downfall as well as the downfall of her role as a woman.

Substance Abuse (Thando)

    Drugs and alcohol significantly contribute to the plot of the play because of the frequent use and references. Mary is a morphine addict, and her husband is an alcoholic. In one scene, Cathleen says, “I'd never suggest a man or a woman touch drink, Mister Edmund. Sure, didn't it kill an uncle of mine in the old country. Still, a drop now and then is no harm when you're in low spirits, or have a bad cold.” People relied on substances to keep them up. The characters know they are abusing alcohol and drugs, yet they find excuses to rationalize their substance abuse. In this quote, Cathleen acknowledges her uncle’s death, which was a result of drinking too much, but she ignores that and suggests drinking.