2 Essays: O'Neil & Franklin The American

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 "what is the American dream" can only be answered in generalities. As understood by many, the American dream consists of having the opportunity to maximize one's 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 O'Neill's play, Long Day's Journey into Night." In this play, O'Neill (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 "one of the biggest property owners around here (O'Neill, 1863)." He is also a man believed by his sons and wife to be a miser, to be more concerned with money than with his family's well-being, and even willing to scrimp on medical care for his ill son and his morphine addicted wife.

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r existence is underscored throughout O'Neill's play which demonstrates that happiness can be ephemeral at best. O'Neill has taken an Irish-American family that is especially troubled and demonstrated through their tragedies that the pursuit of any dream leads one to encounter many obstacles. For Mary Tyrone, the death of a child and poor medical care despite her husband's prosperity, have led her to addiction. For Edmund Tyrone, her son, consumption and an early death are the result of a misspent life. For Jamie and James Tyrone, alcoholism blunts the pain that they feel because of their family's situation. Despite all of this the Tyrones own property, have jobs, and can afford a servant - living at least on the surface, many aspects of the American dream. The American dream is simply that - a dream. It is more about hope and expectations than about reality or possibilities. It is about the pursuit of valued things and not about their possession. It ought to be about family and happiness and love, but it is often distorted into a tragedy of failed relationships, addiction and alcoholism, and premature death as is the case with O'Neill's Tyrones. Work Cited O'Neill, Eugene. Long Day's Jour

Category: Literature - 2