The Analysis of Autobiographical Elements in Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness! and Long Day's Journey into Night: Dark Reality and Delighted Dreams

Karel MRHÁLEK

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

This bachelor thesis explores the degree of autobiographical elements in the plays Long Day's Journey into Night and Ah, Wilderness! by Eugene O'Neill. The first chapter focuses on the author's formative years, his relationship to American theater and the typical features of his work. The second chapter compares O'Neill's family to the Tyrone family from Long Day's Journey and tries to determine the extent to which the game is based on reality. The last chapter compares the characters of Long Day's Journey into Night to those of Ah, Wilderness! and tries to examine to what extant the play is autobiographical and to what extent it is the author's idealized vision of his adolescent years.

Abstract:

Tato bakalářská práce se zabývá mírou autobiografických prvků ve dvou divadelních hrách Long Day's Journey into Night a Ah, Wilderness! od Eugena O'Neilla. První kapitola se soustřeďuje na autorovo mládí, jeho vztah k americkému divadlu a typické rysy jeho tvorby. Druhá kapitola porovnává O'Neillovu rodinu s rodinou Tyronů z Long Day's Journey a snaží se vyzkoumat, do jaké míry je hra založena na skutečnosti. Poslední kapitola porovnává Long Day's Journey and Ah, Wilderness! a snaží se vyzkoumat, do jaké míry je hra autobiografická a do jaké míry se jedná o autorův vysněný ideál toho, jak by bylo bývalo vypadalo jeho dospívání.

Keywords

Eugene O'Neill, americký dramatik, americké drama, tragédie, komedie, rodinné vztahy, závislost, drogy, alkoholismus, láska, nenávist, sny, iluze

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 14. 12. 2020

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: prof. PhDr. Josef Jařab, CSc.

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Arts

Bachelor programme / field:
Philology / English Philology