“That was in the winter of my senior year. Then in the
spring something happened to me. Yes, I remember. I fell in love with James
Tyrone and was so happy for time.”
That last line is heart wrenching. It emphasizes the power
of love; a theme I feel is lost within the play. Love seems to be overshadowed
by yelling, drug abuse, alcoholism, and the bitterness that has been piled up
over the years. Yet we see glimpses of the strong love they have for one
another. For example, when Edmund and James play cards and drink away their
problems, although once again alcohol rules, the moment seems incredibly
sincere. The fact that James shares the story of his past (buying a play and
only making money off of one character) with Edmund gives us the insight that
he loves his son. On top of that, he lets Edmund choose whichever sanatorium he
wants to attend, within reason of course, but for a man as stingy as James this
action reveals the incredible amount of love has for his child. This love can
also be seen in Jamie’s confession to his brother.
What interests me most however, is Mary’s love. Does she
have any? If she does, why the morphine? And that’s what makes the last line so
powerful… she is still in love. True love never dies, no matter how much
alcohol or morphine you poison it with. The problem is although Mary’s love isn’t
dead her happiness is, and the drugs become a way to fog the sadness and try to
live in the past. She wants to forget her horrible home and family, and denies
Edmund’s sickness. If only the morphine could numb the pain and give her just a
bit of happiness it would take her back to the spring of her senior year.
-Ameet
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