Journey Into Dysfunction

Long Day’s Journey into Dysfunction Most people consider family to be pivotal aspect of their life. Yet sometimes, unfortunate circumstances can compromise family connections. Many significant examples of this are shown within the Tyrone family from Long Day’s Journey into Night, by Eugene O’Neill. Certain life situations such as Jamie Tyrone Sr.’s (or simply known as Tyrone) stingy personality, varying illnesses, and their substance addictions cause relational breakdowns that lead to their dysfunctional family situation. One of the first aspects of of their family circumstance that caused relational issues was Jamie Tyrone Sr.’s selfish tendencies. From the beginning of Tyrone and Mary’s marriage, Tyrone had a very stingy nature, which

After Tyrone’s refusal to pay for a proper doctor, Mary becomes severely addicted to morphine. So, Tyrone sees no option but to admit her into a sanatorium. After she shows signs of significant improvement, Mary returned back to their home, but it is obvious that she is tending towards a relapse. To make the situation even worse, her husband and his sons seem to approach every situation with Mary in a frightened way, and treat her like a child: “It makes it so much harder, living in this atmosphere of constant suspicion, knowing everyone is spying on me, and none of you believe me, or trust me.” (O’Neill, 47). This is an example of real-life social stigmas that surround people with mental illnesses, and especially at that time, they would have little idea of how to relate to her (Davey, psychologytoday.com). They also seem like they are trying to help her stay sober, but Mary takes this as them not trusting or understanding her. This unusual treatment causes Mary to fall into paranoia, and probably greatly attributes to her relapse. Much conflict also stems from Edmunds undiagnosed tuberculosis. Because Tyrone has perceived his sons to be lazy almost their entire lives, Edmund’s added weakness frustrates Tyrone and causes further conflict between

Tyrone originated this abuse as a result of his interminable drinking habits during his tours as an actor. And like many experts say, chances are higher for your children to struggle with substance addiction if you do, and this play is no exception (Davey, psychologytoday.com). Although this is one of the only cases where the family unites, due to a large share of their discussions being while they are drinking, and it seems to be the only way in which they can relate to one another. However, they often use alcohol as a way to avoid their life problems, which only further separates them from healthy solutions: “Be always drunken. Nothing else matters: that is the only question. If you would not feel the horrible burden of Time weighing on your shoulders and crushing you to the earth, be drunken continually. Drunken with what? With wine, with poetry, or with virtue, as you will. But be drunken.” (O’Neill, 78) Almost the entire play revolves around the nature of addiction and drunkenness, its structure being very cyclical, much like an