Theme

Regret (Chris)

A recurring theme in within the play has to be regret. From the mother’s regret of marrying to the father’s failed acting career to Jamie not living up to his potential. The past haunts them like a DUI accident resulting in a child’s death and the cast show no signs of ever going through any resolve. Jamie’s regret of not living to his potential has resulted in him sabotaging Edmund to have the same fate. “ I’ll do my damnedest to make you fail. Can’t help it. I hate myself. Got to take revenge. On everyone else. Especially you.” Tyrone’s regret causes him to always be bitter and angry because of his thoughts on what could have been if he didn't play it safe in his acting career. This also leaves him to be stingy just out of stubbornness which led to his wife becoming a drug addict. Mary regrets everything in her life from having Edmund to not becoming a pianist or a nun. This is especially evident after her drug use since her delusions and rants tell us what she is hiding under all her denial. “I had a talk with Mother Elizabeth… I told her i wanted to be a nun. I explained how sure I was of my vocation, that I had prayed to the Blessed Virgin to make me sure, and to find me worthy.” The only one that isn’t as regretful as the others is Edmund, which is ironic since his problems are worse than the others.

Drugs and Alcohol (Gillian)

Drugs and Alcohol abuse is a recurring theme in the play. The Tyrone family uses drugs and alcohol to escape their past and present. Mary's addition to Morphine has resulted in her zoning out every so often. Tyrone's addiction to alcohol has negatively influenced himself and his sons. Both parents are stuck in a cycle of drug or alcohol abuse. Tyrone and Mary try to break the cycle and move on but they are bound by the past. They turn to drugs and alcohol as a relief yet they scold one another about it. Tyrone admits he used to allow his sons to drink a shot as a sort of "medicine". Tyrone at one point says to Edmund, "Come along, then. It's before a meal and I've always found that good whiskey, taken in moderation as an appetizer, is the best of tonics." Jamie and Edmund drink frequently, for Edmund it's a way to enjoy himself before he goes to a sanitarium or before he dies of his illness. Jamie, drinks just to drink. However, none of the boys are addicted to drugs, out of fear that they will end up delusional like their mother.

Family (Thando)

"I knew from experience by then that children should have homes to be born in, if they are to be good children, and women need homes, if they are to be good mothers."