Long Day's Journey Into Night Lesson Plan

What is notable about Eugene O'Neill's use of stage directions and character descriptions? Why do you think he writes those parts of the play in this manner?

O'Neill is well-known for his extended and detailed stage directions and character descriptions. In Long Day's Journey Into Night, his meticulous stage directions lay out exactly how he expects to see the characters act independently in the space and how they should interact, physically and emotionally, with each other. In addition, the very specific stage directions give audiences (and readers) the numerous non-verbal cues and interactions that are taking place during each scene. Since most of the action and...