Paper 108: The American Literature

 Class Assignment 

Write a detailed note on the themes of"Long Day's Journey into Night"by Eugene O'Neill.

Introduction 

Long Day's Journey into Night is a play written in four parts by the American writer Eugene
O’Neill. He wrote it between 1939 and 1941, but the play was published only after his death in 1956.People consider this play his greatest work and one of the most important American plays of the 20th century. It was first performed in Sweden in February 1956. Later, in November 1956, it was performed on Broadway, where it won the Tony Award for Best Play.In 1957, O’Neill was given the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for this play, again after his death. The story of the play is autobiographical, meaning it is based on O’Neill’s own life and family. The title refers
to the fact that the whole play happens during one long and difficult day.

The whole play happens in just one day in August 1912. The story takes place in the Monte Cristo Cottage, which is the Tyrones’ house near the sea in Connecticut.There are four main characters. They are based on O’Neill himself, his older brother, and their mother and father. The father in the play is inspired by Eugene O’Neill’s real father, James O’Neill, who was a well-known actor.

About the Author 

Eugene O'Neill was an influential American playwright and a major figure in modern drama. Born in 1888, he is known for introducing realism and deep psychological themes to the American stage. His famous works include Long Day’s Journey into Night and The Iceman Cometh. O’Neill won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1936 and received four Pulitzer Prizes for Drama. His plays often explore themes of family conflict, fate, and human suffering.

Themes

• Fatalism and Resignation

Long Day’s Journey into Night is a play about addiction, where the characters struggle to

understand and deal with their problems. The Tyrone family members often deny their substance abuse issues, but at the same time, they seem to accept their addictions as if they are unavoidable. For example, James Tyrone refuses to admit he’s an alcoholic, yet he spends most of his time in bars and money on alcohol. Similarly, Mary lets herself live in a fog of morphine,avoiding reality and ignoring her struggles. This way of thinking—avoiding reality—prevents them from truly confronting their problems. Instead of working to change, they give up and accept their addictions, which only makes things worse. O’Neill uses this behavior to show how harmful it is to give in to hopelessness, as it leaves people powerless to improve.

James, for instance, drinks all day, even though his family criticizes him for being an alcoholic.

He insists he’s not addicted but keeps pouring himself whiskey and acting like there’s no way to stop. He even talks about Mary’s morphine addiction in a hopeless way, saying there’s nothing they can do. This attitude reflects his own approach to drinking—he believes change is impossible, so he keeps indulging in his addiction.

Mary also gives up on fighting her addiction. When she relapses, she justifies it by saying life has been cruel and there’s no point in trying to fix it. She claims her addiction is something no one can understand or help, which allows her to continue living destructively without taking responsibility for her actions.

Edmund, the youngest family member, is slightly different. He criticizes this hopeless attitude, especially when James gives up on helping Mary. Edmund believes Mary can still recover and wants to talk to her, showing some optimism that the others lack. However, even though Edmund tries to stay hopeful, his family’s negative views affect him. He struggles with his own drinking problem and seems unable to take control of it. Surrounded by people who believe change is impossible, Edmund also finds it hard to improve his life.

Through these characters, O’Neill shows how harmful it is to give up and believe things can’t

change. This kind of thinking keeps people trapped in their addictions and stops them from making their lives better.

• Denial, Blame, and Guilt

In Long Day’s Journey into Night, O’Neill shows how people often avoid facing their guilt by

blaming others. This is especially clear in Mary’s actions as she tries to hide her morphine addiction. She denies her problem and shifts the focus onto her family, accusing them of not trusting her. This makes them feel guilty, forcing them to pretend everything is fine. Once they stop questioning her, she relapses and then blames them for her struggles. For example, she accuses her husband, James, of causing her addiction and even blames her son Jamie for the

death of her baby.

At the start of the play, Edmund notices signs that Mary might relapse, like staying up late and acting nervously. When he mentions his concerns, Mary turns it around, accusing him of hurting her by doubting her. Although Mary hasn’t relapsed yet, her defensive behavior shows she is close to giving in. By making Edmund feel guilty for suspecting her, she stops him from confronting her, giving her the chance to relapse in secret.

Later, when Edmund asks Mary to promise she won’t use morphine again, she agrees but

reminds him that she has made—and broken—such promises before. Her comment makes

Edmund feel guilty, and he denies being suspicious, even though he has every reason to be.When she says she’s going to lie down, a common excuse she uses to take morphine, Edmund doesn’t stop her. Instead, he feels ashamed and leaves, giving her the opportunity to use the drug again.

Once Mary relapses, she openly blames her family for her troubles. She accuses James of being a bad influence on Jamie and claims Jamie deliberately infected her baby with measles, which led to the child’s death. She even suggests her addiction wouldn’t have happened if James had hireda better doctor after Edmund’s difficult birth. By focusing on these accusations, Mary avoids taking responsibility for her actions.

Through Mary’s behavior, O’Neill highlights how denial and blame can damage relationships

and prevent people from dealing with their guilt.

• Loneliness, Isolation, and Belonging

In Long Day’s Journey into Night, O’Neill shows how loneliness affects everyone, even when

they are surrounded by family. The Tyrone family members are emotionally disconnected,

dealing with their struggles alone. Mary, in particular, feels isolated despite her husband and sons trying to care for her. She blames this loneliness on never having a real “home.” Her life traveling with James in cheap hotels left her without close friends or a sense of belonging. Now,even in a permanent house, she still feels cut off from the world.

Mary romanticizes the idea of having a home and a social life, believing it would cure her

loneliness. She envies her neighbors, saying they have “presentable homes” and are “not cut off from everyone.” Yet, she contradicts herself, admitting she hates the town and its people. This reveals that her longing for a perfect life is more about escaping her loneliness than genuinely wanting that lifestyle. By the end of the play, her inability to connect with others deepens her isolation, showing how chasing an ideal can worsen feelings of solitude.

Edmund also struggles with loneliness but approaches it differently. He accepts that he will always feel like an outsider, saying he’s “a stranger who never feels at home.” However, he finds brief joy and meaning in his isolation. He recalls a moment as a sailor when he felt completely alone yet connected to something greater while staring at the stars. Unlike Mary, Edmund doesn’t try to escape his loneliness. Instead, he embraces it, finding moments of peace and transcendence in his solitude.

O’Neill suggests that loneliness is a natural part of being human. Mary’s constant search for belonging only increases her isolation, while Edmund’s acceptance of his loneliness allows him to find fleeting happiness. Through this contrast, O’Neill highlights that accepting loneliness is the key to finding meaning in life.

• Love and Forgiveness

In Long Day’s Journey into Night, O’Neill shows how the Tyrone family’s love for each other

keeps them together, even though they fight all the time. The family is full of anger and hurt, but they also care deeply for one another. No matter how bad their arguments get, they always try to apologize or move on. This shows that their love is strong, but it also keeps them stuck in a cycle of fighting and forgiving.

For example, when Jamie insults their mother, Edmund punches him in anger. At first, it seems like they will have a big fight, but Jamie quickly apologizes, blaming the alcohol. Edmund also apologizes for hitting him, and they forgive each other. This shows how much they care about their bond, even after arguments.

The family often tries to avoid fights, but it rarely works. When Mary says hurtful things about Jamie, both Edmund and James try to stop her, but they can’t help getting upset and joining thebargument. This shows that conflict is a normal part of their family, no matter how hard they try to avoid it.

Even though they argue a lot, the Tyrones love each other. After one fight, Mary tells James she still loves him and remembers the day they met. James replies that he will always love her, no matter what. These moments of kindness show how much they care, even during hard times.

But this love also keeps them stuck. They always forgive each other, so nothing ever changes—Mary continues using drugs, the men keep drinking, and the fights never end. O’Neill

shows that love can be both a strength and a trap. It holds the Tyrone family together, but it also stops them from breaking free of their problems.

• The Past, Nostalgia, and Regret

Long Day’s Journey into Night is a play about a family stuck in the past. The characters

constantly think about things that have already happened, which stops them from living in the

present. For Mary, this obsession shows up as nostalgia—she dreams about her childhood and regrets the choices that led her to her current unhappy life. She remembers her days as a young girl in a convent, planning to be a nun or a concert pianist, and feels like she made the wrong choices. James, her husband, also looks back on his life with regret, realizing he gave up his artistic dreams for a career focused on money. Both Mary and James waste their present lives by dwelling on what they can’t change.

Mary believes the past controls her present and future. She tells James, “The past is the present, isn’t it? It’s the future, too.” This shows she feels trapped by her past choices, which leads her to spend all her time thinking about what might have been. She regrets leaving the convent and her dreams of being a musician to follow James and live his lifestyle. Though she once found it exciting, she now feels it wasn’t worth giving up her own goals. She romanticizes her convent days, saying she was happier before she met James, but this only makes her current situation harder to bear.

James also spends a lot of time thinking about the past. He often talks about the highlight of his acting career, when he was praised for playing Othello. But he admits that chasing fame and money ruined his potential as an artist. He tells Edmund that he would trade everything he has now to go back and follow his dreams. Like Mary, James’s nostalgia turns into regret, and he can’t stop reliving his past mistakes.

At the end of the play, Mary comes downstairs holding her wedding dress and talks about

becoming a nun. This shows how deeply she is stuck in her past, pretending she’s young again to escape her present pain. O’Neill uses this moment to show how harmful it is to live in the past.Both Mary and James waste their lives regretting things they can’t change. Through their story,O’Neill suggests that people need to let go of nostalgia and regret if they want to find happiness.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill powerfully explores themes of family conflict, guilt, addiction, and the painful grip of the past. The play reveals how love and resentment coexist within the Tyrone family, ultimately portraying the tragic consequences of denial and unresolved suffering.

Home Assignment 

Write a detailed summary of the novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Ernest Hemingway.

Introduction 

For Whom the Bell Tolls is a renowned war novel by Ernest Hemingway, published in 1940. Set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, the story follows Robert Jordan, an American dynamiter assigned to blow up a strategic bridge to support the Republican cause. During his mission, he forms deep bonds with a group of guerrilla fighters and falls in love with Maria. The novel explores themes of love, sacrifice, duty, death, and the moral complexities of war. Through realistic narration and intense emotional conflict, Hemingway presents a moving portrayal of courage and human endurance in times of crisis.

Originally published: October 21, 1940

Setting: Spanish Civil War

Genre: War novel

About the Author 

Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) was one of the most influential American writers of the twentieth century. Known for his simple, direct prose style, he wrote about war, adventure, love, and human struggle. His major works include The Old Man and the Sea, A Farewell to Arms, and For Whom the Bell Tolls. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954 for his powerful and realistic storytelling.

Summary 

Robert Jordan, a young American, is a Spanish teacher who is fighting with the Republican side

in the Spanish Civil War.One day, he meets an older man named Anselmo on a mountainside.

Anselmo is his guide and introduces him to the area. Robert’s mission is to destroy a nearby

bridge to stop the Fascist forces (their enemies) from entering the region. This mission was given to him by Golz, a Soviet officer working with the Republicans.

Anselmo takes Robert to meet a group of guerrilla fighters led by Pablo. Right away, Robert doesn’t like Pablo because he is moody and not supportive of the mission. At their camp, Robert meets Maria, a young woman who was rescued by the guerrillas after her village was attacked.She had been a prisoner and had her head shaved during her time in captivity. Even with her short hair, Robert finds her beautiful. He is drawn to her, and they start to build a close connection.

At the camp, Robert also meets Pilar, Pablo’s wife. Pilar is a strong and commanding woman

who seems to have more influence over the group than her husband. She supports Robert’s

mission, even though Pablo is against it at first. Pilar tells Robert stories about the violence of the war, including how Pablo used to be a strong leader but has now lost his courage and faith in their cause.

As time passes, Maria and Robert fall in love. They confess their feelings to each other, and their relationship grows quickly. Pilar notices their bond and supports it. Meanwhile, the group begins planning the attack on the bridge. They travel to meet El Sordo, the leader of another group of guerrillas, to ask for help. El Sordo agrees to join the mission, but on their way back, Maria and Robert’s love deepens, and they talk about a future together after the war.

Back at the camp, tension rises. Pablo becomes drunk and angry, creating trouble for the group. At one point, he leaves the camp with the explosives needed for the mission. The guerrillas decide that Pablo might have to be killed because of his behavior. However, Pablo returns later, saying he had a moment of weakness but brought reinforcements from a nearby village to help with the mission.

The mission becomes even more dangerous when the Fascists attack El Sordo’s group and kill everyone. Robert realizes the enemy knows about their plans and tries to send a message to cancel the bridge attack, but it’s too late. The Republicans have already started their offensive. On the day of the mission, the group successfully destroys the bridge, but it comes at a high cost. Many of the guerrillas are killed, including Anselmo, who was close to Robert. During the escape, Robert’s horse is shot, and he falls, breaking his leg. He knows he can’t go on, so he tells Maria and the others to leave without him to save themselves.

As Robert lies injured, waiting for the Fascists to arrive, he reflects on his life. He feels sadness about leaving the world and Maria behind, but he is also grateful for the love they shared and proud of his fight for what he believed in. Despite the pain and loss, he accepts his fate and prepares for one final stand.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway is a profound portrayal of war and its impact on human lives. The novel highlights themes of sacrifice, love, duty, and the inevitability of death. Through Robert Jordan’s heroic struggle, Hemingway emphasizes the value of courage and commitment to a greater cause. Ultimately, the novel conveys that human lives are deeply interconnected, especially in times of conflict.

Essay

Discuss in detail characters of the novel "For whom the Bell Tolls"

Introduction 

For Whom the Bell Tolls is a renowned war novel by Ernest Hemingway, published in 1940. Set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, the story follows Robert Jordan, an American dynamiter assigned to blow up a strategic bridge to support the Republican cause. During his mission, he forms deep bonds with a group of guerrilla fighters and falls in love with Maria. The novel explores themes of love, sacrifice, duty, death, and the moral complexities of war. Through realistic narration and intense emotional conflict, Hemingway presents a moving portrayal of courage and human endurance in times of crisis.

 About the Author 

Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) was one of the most influential American writers of the twentieth century. Known for his simple, direct prose style, he wrote about war, adventure, love, and human struggle. His major works include The Old Man and the Sea, A Farewell to Arms, and For Whom the Bell Tolls. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954 for his powerful and realistic storytelling.

Characters 

• Robert Jordan 

Robert Jordan is a young man from Montana, America. He is a Spanish language professor, but he has come to Spain to fight in the Spanish Civil War as a volunteer for the Republican side. He is trained to blow up bridges and handle explosives, and he takes his duty as a soldier very seriously.Robert comes from a sad and troubled family background. His father committed suicide using his grandfather’s gun. His grandfather was a brave soldier, so Robert feels that his father’s suicide was an act of cowardice. Although Robert never talks openly about this, it affects him deeply. As a young man, he threw the gun into a lake, showing that he wanted to leave this painful past behind.Robert supports the Republicans because he is against fascism, but he is not fully sure that the Republicans are always right or morally better than their enemies. Sometimes he feels confused and guilty about the violence he takes part in. Even with these doubts, he never leaves the fight. Unlike Pablo, who often runs away from responsibility, Robert stays loyal and continues his mission.On the outside, Robert appears calm,practical, and disciplined. Inside, however, he struggles with anger, confusion, and guilt about killing and war. He has never been in love before, so he does not understand his own emotions very well.

When Robert falls in love with Maria, his life changes. Through her love and care, he learns

kindness, empathy, and emotional connection. Maria helps him heal from his painful past and

makes him understand the importance of human relationships.At the end of the novel, when Robert is badly injured and knows he may die, he reflects on his life. He realizes that he has lived a meaningful life and understands that what matters most is doing his duty in the present moment, not worrying about past mistakes.

• Maria

Maria is a young woman who belongs to the guerrilla group that Robert Jordan meets at the

beginning of the novel. She is described as very beautiful, with golden-brown eyes, sun-darkened skin, and short golden-brown hair. Her hair was cut short by prison guards when she was arrested.Maria has suffered greatly in the past. Fascist soldiers drove her out of her hometown,imprisoned her, and raped her. This cruel experience deeply traumatized her. When the guerrillas rescued her from a train wreck, she was so shocked that she could hardly speak for a long time.Despite this painful past, Maria quickly falls in love with Robert Jordan. She openly declares her love the first time they are together. With him, she feels safe, loved, and cared for, and her relationship with Robert helps her feel alive again.Maria is shown as very gentle, innocent, and completely devoted to Robert. She obeys him, depends on him emotionally, and sees him as the center of her world. In this way, her character is simple and one-sided. She does not show much independence or personal growth.Compared to Pilar, who is strong, complex, and realistic, Maria lacks depth. Her main purpose in the story is to support Robert Jordan’s development. Through loving Maria, Robert learns the importance of love, compassion, and emotional connection. Maria herself does not change much during the novel, but she represents purity, tenderness, and healing in the middle of war.

• Pilar / Pablo’s Wife

Pilar is the real leader of the guerrilla group, even though her husband, Pablo, also claims to be in charge. Unlike Pablo, Pilar is strong, confident, and practical. The fighters respect her because she takes firm decisions and knows how to control difficult situations.Pilar is deeply loyal to the Republican cause. She represents the strength, courage, and emotional power of the Spanish people fighting against fascism. While Maria stands for love and romance, Pilar plays a motherly role. She is described as an older and rough-looking woman, but she is caring and protective, especially toward Maria and the other members of the group.Pilar is a complex character. She believes strongly in winning the war and is willing to do anything to succeed. At one point, she even considers killing her own husband, Pablo, because his fear and disobedience threaten the group’s mission. This shows how serious and committed she is to the cause.At the same time, Pilar hates the cruelty and destruction of war. The violence troubles her, and she often feels tired and hopeless when she thinks about the future. Even so, she continues to fight because she believes it is her duty.Pilar can be harsh and stubborn, but she is also intelligent and powerful. She believes she has the ability to see the future, and she correctly predicts that Robert Jordan will die. However, her strong political beliefs blind her. She cannot accept that the Republican cause may fail, even when signs of defeat are clear.Overall, Pilar is one of the strongest and most realistic characters in the novel. She shows both courage and weakness, strength and doubt,making her far more complex than many other characters.

• Pablo

Pablo is one of the leaders of the guerrilla group, along with his wife, Pilar. In the past, he was a brave and respected fighter. When Robert Jordan first meets him, Pablo is described as a serious and courageous man. However, by the time the story begins, Pablo has changed.Pablo has become tired of war and has lost faith in the Republican cause. He often argues with the other fighters and strongly opposes Robert Jordan’s plan to blow up the bridge, saying that the mission is too dangerous. Many times, Pablo leaves the camp or refuses to cooperate, showing his lack of commitment.Pablo wants a peaceful life without violence, fear, and destruction. He loves horses and sees them as symbols of beauty and calm in the middle of war.His attachment to horses shows his desire to escape from the cruelty around him.

At one point, Pablo steals and destroys Robert Jordan’s explosives. He later realizes that this was a terrible mistake and feels guilty. Although he repents and tries to help again, the damage is already done. Because there are not enough explosives, the guerrillas must carry out the bridge mission at close range. This leads to the deaths of many fighters.Pablo survives the mission, but he is left with deep guilt and shame. In contrast, Robert Jordan dies heroically. At first, Robert appears to be the opposite of Pablo—brave, disciplined, and committed. However, the novel suggests that Pablo was once just as heroic. In the past, he had taken part in violent actions against fascists during a local uprising.As the story develops, Robert Jordan also begins to doubt the Republican cause. This shows that Pablo and Robert are not as different as they first seem. Pablo represents what can happen when war destroys a person’s faith and courage, turning a former hero into a fearful and broken man.

• Conclusion 

In conclusion, the characters of For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway* are richly developed and represent different emotional and psychological responses to war. Robert Jordan reflects bravery and inner conflict, Maria symbolizes love and hope amid destruction, Pilar stands for strength and wisdom, and Pablo represents fear and moral decline. Through these characters, Hemingway highlights themes of sacrifice, loyalty, love, and the deep human cost of war, making the novel not just a story of political struggle but a powerful exploration of human relationships and shared destiny.