ABriefAnalysisofThemeInLongDay’sJourneyIntoNight

【Abstract】The paper analyzes themes in Long Days Journey Into Night from the loss of dream， materialism and freedom. It also points out that Eugene ONeill has used multiple symbols to indicate different themes successfully， giving themes a concrete image to make the meaning of the script more subtle and richer.

【Key words】Long Days Journey Into Night； theme； symbolism

【作者簡介】佟佳蔚，女，满族，黑龙江牡丹江人，哈尔滨师范大学2016级硕士研究生，研究方向：美国文学。

Introduction

Eugene ONeill is the father of American drama and he is the only dramatist who wins Nobel Prize for literature in the history of American drama until now. Long Days Journey into Night is the representative of his realistic play. The four-act play depicts the family tragedy which the Tyrones suffer in the period from the American Dream to the American Tragedy.

Symbolism is the writing skill by using concrete objects to express much deeper meanings. Eugene ONeill uses a lot of symbols in Long Days Journey into Night to indicate different themes， such as Jamess note， Marys wedding gown， Doc Hardy and sea. The paper mainly focuses on the analysis of themes by different symbols.

1. The loss of dream

1.1 James Tyrone is a typical character of the loss of American Dream.

His note symbolizes his American dream， to be a great Shakespearean actor. In the play， Jamess miserable childhood makes he cherish one dollar so much. In order to make more money， he acts as the same role in all performances which ruins his acting talent. In Act 4， James talks to Edmund his note which is in praise of him written by Edwin Booth. James says he used to read it until finally it makes him feel so bad， he does not want to face it any more. The note is Jamess American Dream， to be a great Shakespearean actor. However， materialism damages his dream. Tempted by the large amount of wealth， he gives up his dream to become a big money-maker. So James feels in great grief when he sees the note or talks about it to his son， Edmund.

1.2 Marys wedding gown

Marys wedding gown symbolizes her lost dreams and happiness. Before Mary meets James， she dreams to be a nun or a pianist which are her girlish dreams. However， she marries a touring actor which causes she to give up her dreams. What is worse is to， the quack uses morphine to relieve the pain of her dystocia which causes her addiction. In such condition， she feels hopeless toward the future. In the play， she used to take the wedding gown out. It reminds her of youth dreams and happiness in the past， although it makes her cry. She cannot find her dreams forever.

2. Materialism

In the play， Doc Hardy symbolizes Materialism in America. Although he is the only one character who has no chance to get on the stage， he plays the negative effect on the Tyrones family. When Mary is in the suffering of dystocia， he uses morphine to cure her. At last， Mary is addicted to the drug. When Edmund is diagnosed as consumption， he suggests to go to state farm sanatorium. In eyes of Doc Hardy， money and profit are the corn of everything. Sympathy and friendship mean nothing. Doc Hardy works as a tool of Materialism and the Tyrones are the victims of Materialism.

3. Freedom

As to Edmund， seas mean freedom. In Act 4， Edmund reminds his experience on the Squarehead square rigger， bound for Buenos Aires. With the beauty of the sea， Edmund sets free and he dissolves in the sea. The experience of sea is different from reality for Edmund. In reality， he has to face the fact it is his birth that causes his mothers addition and he has to pretend not to know her addiction. He has to face his consumption which is fatal at that time. He has to bear his brothers condemnation. The reality tortures him a lot. However， sea means another world to him where he can forget all the sufferings and feel temporarily happy. So he loves sea and regards it as shelter from the real world.

Conclusion

Long Days Journey Into Night is a play full of symbols. The use of symbols are like mirrors from different angles to indicate the theme of the play. Jamess note， Marys wedding gown， Doc Hardy and sea make the play more than a play that can be enjoyed in the theater. They display us a family tragedy in the period from the American Dream to the American Tragedy. We gain a deeper understanding of living condition of American people at that time.

References：

[1]Eugene ONeill.Long Days Journey Into Night.New Haven& London：Yale University Press，1956.