The American dream is defined differently by various generations, racial and ethnic groups, and other subgroups within society. Attempting to determine what constitutes this dream is therefore very complex and the question of ôwhat is the American dreamö can only be answered in generalities. As understood by many, the American dream consists of having the opportunity to maximize oneÆs own personal success and advancement, the ability to participate freely and without obstacles in all aspects of American political, economic, and social life, and the capacity to enjoy the same equality accorded to the most affluent or influential members of society. A greater question is whether or not this particular vision of American opportunity can ever be fully achieved by the vast majority of individuals.
One version of the American dream is presented in Eugene OÆNeillÆs play, Long DayÆs Journey into Night.ö In this play, OÆNeill (1855) depicts the family of James Tyrone, a group of four individuals who are at the mercy of the past and who are unable to cope with the reality of the present. The patriarch of the family, James Tyrone, is known by his son, Jamie, as ôone of the biggest property owners around here (OÆNeill, 1863).ö He is also a man believed by his sons and wife to be a miser, to be more concerned with money than with his familyÆs well-being, and even willing to scrimp on medical care for his ill son and his morphine addicted wife.
James Tyrone is a man who constantly fools himself into believing that his wife and son will be well and fails to recognize that much of their problem is due to the fact that he would not pay for a first-rate physician when they needed care (OÆNeill, 1867). He also fails to understand that his wife, Mary, has long resented the fact that her home is cheap, poorly furnished, and totally unsuitable for entertaining anyone who might be decent.
The Tyrone family is a fami...