Eugene O’Neill is generally regarded as America’s greatest playwright and Long Day’s Journey Into Night is accepted as his greatest play. The course will examine this “play of old sorrow” for its position in western drama, its psychological insight, its origins in the intellectual ferment of the early 20th century and its place in the tragic tradition. We will also focus on the importance of O’Neill’s stagecraft and the actors’ performance approach in conveying the power of the play. Our study will use a video of the play in class with a discussion focused approach and supporting lecture material. NOTE: suggested text: Long Day's Journey into Night, Yale University Press, 2nd edition (2002).
