When it comes to standing ovations, I'm old-fashioned. I think they should be reserved for truly outstanding performances. Nothing bugs me more than people who sit in their seat a while, then decide "Yea, I guess it's worth a standing ovation." If you're not absolutely propelled out of your seat by a performance, then sit down.When I saw A Moon for the Misbegotten a few years ago at the Hartford Stage Company, I leapt to my feet at the final curtain.
Here's why -- the love story, between Jim Tyrone and Josie Hogan, is beautiful, complex, and tormented. Now you take Romeo and Juliet: he was hot for her, she was hot for him; not much of a story, really. I can't tell you now about the nature of the characters or the relationship -- you'll have to discover that for yourself.
The play is set in Connecticut, of course. And the playwright, Eugene O'Neill is a Connecticut native. And he's a heavyweight. As should become apparent as you read this.
Be sure to leave your name when you leave your response.
As of now, I am almost half way through this play. I think that it's definitely interesting and is different than most plays we have read in other English classes. As I'm sure all of us agree, it's no Shakespeare. I like how Josie is such a strong individual. She speaks her mind, to some extent, but has a secret soft spot yet to arise. So I'm looking forward to seeing how the relationship between Josie and Jim progresses. Hope everyone enjoys it as much as I have.
ReplyDeleteKristin Carr
I'm confused by the description of Josie as "so oversize that she is almost a freak." The play says she is five feet eleven and weighs around 180 pounds. I'm five feet nine and I weigh about as much. So how is she a freak?
ReplyDeleteThat aside, I liked the play. The story was a welcome departure from the traditional love story. Though I agree with Kristin that it's not exactly Shakespeare, it is still well written and an enjoyable read. (not having to read in iambic pentameter helps, too.)
Sorry, forgot to sign my name!
ReplyDeleteMatthew Shanks
I enjoyed the story and appreciated the complex relationships between Josie and Tyronne and Josie and her father, Hogan. I think my favorite thing about this play was its intimacy. There were three (and a half with Mike) speaking characters the entire play, and I think this made the conversations real and raw. It kept the story from getting bogged down with too many story lines and plots (like The Return of the Native). The story was pure and complex despite only having three characters. More amazingly, the plot was still interesting and I found myself really felling for Josie. If I were her, I would be a little bit more upset by the end. Her father, the one person she had in the world, tricked her (even if he had "good intentions"), and her one love leaves her despite everything. I agree with Kristin, Josie is a strong, independent woman that is admirable.
ReplyDeleteCristina
Just finished "A Moon for the Misbegotten" and I quite liked it! The characters' relationships, as Cristina said, were really interesting and complex. I was not expecting the play to end the way it did, but I liked how not everything turned out perfectly for the characters. It seemed more realistic that way. For example, we know that Jim loved Josie, but we also know that he wouldn't be good at settling down and marrying her because he's just not that kind of guy. I think that this makes Jim a much more interesting and realistic character than if he and Josie just got married and lived happily ever after.
ReplyDeleteThis play reminds me a lot of "All My Sons" by Arthur Miller because it's so self-contained and it really explores the characters' histories and feelings and motivations. I think I'm beginning to prefer this kind of modern drama to Shakespeare's plays.
I quite enjoyed this play. It was a very quick read and it grabbed my attention. Josie's character in particular was my favorite. She never actually slept around, yet she gave off the impression to everyone, even her father and brother, that she was slut. Until the moment she proclaimed her virginity I was not sure on whether her love for Jim was real or if it was a trick she would play like might have with her other said "sweethearts". This closeness of the characters really helped to develop the relationships and the personalities of them all. So as Cristina said, I also enjoyed that quality of this play. It was very neat being able to really get to know the few characters and understand their intentions and actions.
ReplyDeleteMatt- compared to her brother who is 5.5 and her father who is 5.6, she is way taller than them. Just comparing her to the men in her life, she looms over them and can be pictured as a freak.
ReplyDeleteThis was an interesting read. The story was condensed it seems. That so many important things happened in only 150 pages. And the ending felt like it came too soon. I felt like Josie should have deserved more from the end. That more should had happen between her and Jim. But I do agree with Ali, Jim wouldn’t be a guy that would settle down and get married. Even though it makes sense, I don’t like it.
And does anyone know what Long Day's Journey Into Night is about? I wonder if there would be anything in it that would help give a background to this play.
I liked the limited number of charatcers for the same reasons as Emily. You truly got a chance to understand the characters and connect with their feeling and emotions through all the events that occured. Because it is in play format, I believe the author did an amazing job developing the characters just through their dialogue and tone described. This wasn't the classic love story and I found that very interesting and enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteKristin Carr
I agree that this play was totally different from the average plays we read in class. I agree with Ali that the characters were portrayed realistically, not hiding their flaws, and I think this contributed to the play's sucess.
ReplyDeleteComing away from this book, I don't feel the same satisfaction as I did when I finished 'Goldengrove'. It's hard to explain, but I don't feel complete. I think the play was SO different, that I'm having trouble truely connecting and grasping the characters and story line. The way Josie, Jim, and Hogan spoke to each other wasn't familiar to me, and Hogan's reputation of cheating people also wasn't very familiar to me. This unfamiliarity defidently grabbed my attention- like Emily said.
I think Josie is admirable, like Cristina and Kristin said. I think she was very brave and strong to have to put up with her father, while she watched her brothers leave into freedom. I also think that Hogan was clever. He had so many tricks and lies up his sleve, I was surprised that he could keep them all straight. I think it revealed that Hogan truely had a heart when he set Jim up with Josie. Even though he was after Jim's money, underneath I think he really loved his daughter and cared for her well-being. I have to admit that at times I couldn't tell if Jim and Hogan were telling the truth. I would stop and think- 'if this is true then...'
Overall, this play will be memorable for me because it was so different, and the character dynamics were so harsh. I'm glad that Jim left because like Ali said, Jim wasn't the type of man to get married and settle down. I think now Josie feels fulfilled and satisfied that she spent that night with Jim, and helped him face his mother's death, and he woke up to see a beautiful sunrise.
I just finished "A Moon for the Misbegotten" and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have always had trouble reading play manuscripts but as Cristina said there is a lot of intimacy in the play because of the limited number of characters. This intimacy made the play much more interesting and allowed the reader to make personal connections to each character.
ReplyDeleteWhat I thought was most interesting in this play was the character James Tyrone. Tyrone is identical to Reverend Dimmesdale, of "The Scarlet Letter", in almost every way. Both men are relatively young, good looking men who are haunted by their pasts. Tyrone is ashamed of his reaction to his mother's passing and his display at her funeral. Dimmesdale is ridiculed by the secret of his love child with Hester Prynne. Ultimately, both men's incessant self-loathing leads to disease physically, mentally, and emotionally. With the admittance of the ghosts of their pasts, they are both put at peace. Dimmesdale dies immediately following his admittance while Tyrone is finally able to fall asleep peacefully.
This play was a great change of pace from the stereotypical love story. I completely enjoyed the unexpected ending and the profoundness incorporated with the characters' interactions throughout the book.
Jeff Gilcreast
I agree with Taylor and Becky - the ending is good, but not satisfying.
ReplyDeleteI did say that the departure from the traditional romance was welcome, but I still found it somewhat jarring; I was expecting them to wind up together, and whan they didn't it felt odd... Which is not a bad thing, of course, but unsettling to me personally
Matthew Shanks
I know that I am a nerd, but I read this book in one sitting. Two hours was all it took me to read this story, because quite frankly it envelopped me and I was completely engrossed in what I was reading. What struck me was the real and raw emotional content of the story that transcends the huge gap of time between the setting and the present. Although the in The Catcher in the Rye Holden was closer to our age, his problems were hard to relate to. On the other hand, the Hogans' story was full of emotion, and that emotion was easy for the reader to connect to. We have all felt fear, longing, love, saddness, and confliction with our feelings. It made the story easier to read, and of course, as Matt said, the lack of iambic pantameter helped too! I didn't mind the ending. For me, it left so many things answered and although that makes me angry as a reader, it allows me to imagine my own ending, imagine what happened after that dawn. Overall, I really enjoyed the book.
ReplyDeleteAli, I also really liked that things didn't work out perfectly. That really took away the classic/cliche fairytale ending and made it more realistic and relateable. That said, I agree with Becky that Josie should have deserved more from the ending. She did so much for her family, her father especially. She also was able to support Jim even though she knew he would leave her in the end.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Jeff I really like the connection between Tyronne and Dimmesdale. I didn't think of that when I was reading the play, but I couldn't agree more.
I thought the ending came too soon, but I don't really see how the story could have been elongated and still have the desired uncertainty that the play left you with
Cristina
I enjoyed this play. It was intriguing to me that things that I was sure of turned out to be false. At times I wasn’t clear if Josie was still tricking Jim or if she was meaning everything that she was saying. I also thought that Josie turned out to be, for the most part, a static character. I didn’t believe that at the end of the play that Josie was the type of person that wouldn’t go back to her sharp tongue ways. The change that I did notice in her was when she finally told the truth to Jim about her being a virgin. She had been portraying that she was a slut to everyone, but Jim saw behind her lie. I agreed with most of you that the ending came quick but I enjoyed how it didn’t turn out as a “happily ever after”, as Ali had said.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with what Katie said about the ending. I liked the mystery and the opportunity for the reader to imagine how the the characters' lives and relationships would develop and progress. Also it may not have had an obvious happily ever after ending, but in a way it did have a happy ending because Jim told Josie how much he loved truly loved her and she knew he meant it. Josie and Jim had the chance to admit to themselves what they have been lying and covering up for a long time, Jim- how he handled his mother's death and Josie- that she is a virgin. And just as we have heard many times, the truth will set you free. This to me is a happy ending.
ReplyDeleteKristin Carr
To add on to Kristin's comment, I think not only did the Josie and Jim relationship change for the better but so did the relationship between Josie and her father. They finally came out and told the truth to each other when Hogan revealed his scheme. I think they became closer and finally knew that they could always rely on each other to be there.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI started this play yesterday and I am already half way through Act 3. I find "A Moon for the Misbegotten" to be a very interesting play and I agree with Kristen Carr that it is like none of the other plays we have read in previous English classes. I also agree in that I want to know what will happen to Josie and Jim. There is a lot of drama between the Hogan's, Harder, and Jim and I am very interested in finding out how the issue of the land is resolved. In reading the comments above, I also agree with Cristina in that the minimul amount of characters was not as confusing as "Return of the Native". With only so few characters, I feel as though I can connect more to them (the characters). Also to what Alison Farrish said, almost every reader wants a happy ending and I although I was not expecting one, my thoughts have been confirmed. I am beginning to find out that a lot of dramatic (tradgedy?) plays do not have a happy ending.
ReplyDeleteI finished "A Moon for the Misbegotten" and I really liked it. I was not too dissappointed by the ending, perhaps because I knew what was coming and it just seemed impossible for Josie and Jim to actually work together. By this, I mean Jim drinks too much and has so much guilt. He also seems like he's two different people at times; the romantic Jim who loves Josie and the broadway Jim who talks like he is talking to a "tart" and acts as if he is in broadway. To my previous comment, I dont know why I had said "I was starting to realize that tradgedies do not have a happy ending" because I already knew that. That is why plays are called tradgedies!
ReplyDeleteBy the last few pages of the book, I thought about Josie and questioned if she had the strength to leave her father. Throughout the whole book, the reader hears a lot about Josie's callers, which were many, but yet she never settled down with any of them. Josie also helps her brothers run away, but yet she could never run away. At one point in the play, Josie is talking with Jim and she states that she is going to run away and she tells her dad this, too, but then at the end, she just tells her dad she was joking. I feel as though Josie does not have the true strength to do what she wants and she doesn't care how her life goes. An example is that she's called a "slut" and everyone thinks that and even she starts to believe it, but she's actually not; she just doesn't care.
In Katie's comment, I agree that the play was full of emotions and I could connect to them. I think the play's italic dialouge helped set up the emotions and the reader could visualize everything the characters were doing (ex: facial expression, tone of voice). Though this is seen in all plays, I felt like this author was more in depth describing the emotions and actions of the characters.
This play is definitely unlike any other play we have read in previous honors english classes. I really enjoyed this play because of the sarcastic humor Hogan and Josie shared with each other. I feel that Hogan always loved and respected Josie, he just wasn't as open about it until the end in the final scene after Jim left for good. I agree with Alex that Josie seems to not care how her life goes and what people say about her. It is quite odd to want to be called a "whore" and have such reputation. That is evident of her insecurity. Jim is inconsistent with his feelings about what he wants in life which is what also adds to Josie's insecurity. Their relationship would never work out because they are leaning on each other in search of some type support that clearly neither one of them is willing to offer to each other.
ReplyDeleteMeghan Pugliese
Prior to reading A Moon for the Misbegotten I was very curious about the meaning of the title and more specifically the definition of the word “misbegotten.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines misbegotten as “unlawfully conceived and planned” and “contemptible.” Now that I have finished the play I believe that the title is very fitting considering all of the scandalous acts that occur and turn the initially humorous and light-hearted story into a grave and cruel one. I cannot believe what an evil character Hogan turned out to be despite his “good intentions.” At the end of the play, I was surprised Josie did not end up with Tyrone, help him with his problems, and live happily ever after. Instead, the play has a realistic and tragic ending. Tyrone remains a broken man, the lovers do not get together, and Josie remains heartbroken living with her fiendish father at the farm. Although the ending was not desirable, I found it made for a better, more thought-provoking play altogether. Eugene O’Neill created a true tragedy.
ReplyDeleteBrendan Perra
I just finished "A Moon for the Misbegotten" and I'm not quite sure what I think yet. At first I was disappointed in the ending (I like happy endings and the classic romance, what can I say?) But then reading through others' posts, I realized that I do feel it was the right ending, even if it wasn't the happy ending.
ReplyDeleteAs for the characters, I didn't feel very attached to any of them, even though we come to know a lot about them. I liked the unconventional relationship between Josie and her father; it was harsh yet loving. I like how Josie was tough and yet she had a soft, feminine, caring side too. Tyrone was a very complex character, and I thought it was cool that he was able to see the true Josie, even when she and her father couldn't. That was my favorite part of the play; I'm not sure how to put it into words, but I think it really seemed sweet, because it showed that he could handle the type of person she pretended to be because he was able to see through her lies and see who she really was.
I finished this play sometime last week, and overall, I liked it a lot. I especially liked how the entire play happens in less than 24 hours. So many important things happened in so little time. I agree with Cristina and mostly everyone else about the lack of characters being a good thing. It was easier to follow than some of the other plays we've read in the past, and it allowed me to connect better with characters I think. Josie was my favorite of the few there were. She's a strong, independent woman, but she also showed a softer, weaker side too. Around most people, she put on a strong front and played the tough girl. However, she truly loved Jim and opened up to him instead of pretending to be someone she wasn't.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn Sireci
I also liked the not-so-perfect ending for Josie. She didn't completely get what she wanted, but I think that was for the best. Jim doesn't strike me as the kind of guy to settle down with a woman in his current mindset. I did gather that Jim is, however, a very smart guy—street smart at least. I was surprised when I found out Josie was a virgin, in contrast to what she always told everyone. She had me fooled, but Jim was smart enough to see through her shield. In my view, this strengthened their connection. It was like one of those things where the two people don't even need to say something to know what the other is thinking or feeling.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn Sireci
I'm definitely with Ali on liking these modern dramas better than good old Shakespeare. They're easier to understand purely by the language used, but I also enjoy the anti perfect love story endings as a change of pace every now and then. I like the harshness of the characters; it’s very realistic, especially in today’s society. Jeff, I completely agree with the connection to “The Scarlet Letter.” It didn’t occur to me while I was reading, but now that I think about it, Dimmesdale and Tyrone are nearly mirror-image characters. They are stuck on things of the past, but both men do eventually end up at peace with themselves.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn Sireci
As Brendan said, I too had no idea what the title of this play had to do with its plot. Looking back on everything that happened though, it makes perfect sense now. In a way, I feel that a lot of the plot was a bunch of stories and lies that all weaved together into a big mess of feelings and thoughts in different people’s heads. In the end, the big mess sorted out and all unfolded at once. The ending came somewhat abruptly for what I’m used to, but like Cristina commented, I don’t think there would’ve been a good way to continue the plot any further without harming the effect on its readers. Even though the play finished up a little quickly, I didn’t necessarily mind it. As we’ve all seemed to agree on, a change in the pace isn’t a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn Sireci
Carolyn, that's the perfect way to put it! The lies were weaved together into a big mess but at the end it sorted out and unfolded!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book. It was quick, easy, and significant. I finished it in one day and read a story unlike any other. I liked the relationship between Hogan and Josie. They are a father/daughter pair unlike any other especially when they scheme.
ReplyDeleteI was pretty shocked by Jim's tale and the secrets he had hidden, but impressed by Josie's commitment to him when she held him until the sun came up.
I agree with Carolyn on the messiness of feelings and thoughts that all became clear near the end of the story.
Overall, I liked this play and it was my second favorite out of the three.
-Kelsey Gallant
I really like what Katie said about this play having "real and raw emotional content". The characters were nowhere near perfect, and I think that's what makes me like this play.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy how Eugene O'Neill wrote about only a few characters involved in series of events that lasted for such a relatively short period of time. It makes me think how even between just three people, there is something worth being written; how everyone has some sort of drama or interesting moments happening in their lives.
I agree with everyone who said that the play did not end the way they were expecting, but I never really stopped to predict an ending; I was just sort of taking the story as I read it, because nothing seemed too predictable to me.
Like many of you, I do like the ending because it seemed real and fitting, but, like Becky said, it felt like it happened too soon, and Josie deserved more.
I like what Kristin said, about how in a way, the play did have a happy ending because Jim and Josie both ended up knowing the truth of each other's feelings.
I think it was more of a happy ending not only because they know the truth about their feelings but because that mess of lies also got resolved. At the end, no one was pretending to be someone they weren't anymore. They all learned to be comfortable in their own skin and accept not only themselves but the harsher realities of life. They all were able to shed the baggage of their lies and I think now that the characters are being real with themselves, they can find peace in their situation and strive to open new doors. Who knows, Josie might find someone else who will fall in love with the new and improved, real her. By ending the play where Eugene did, we can imagine our own happy ending (for those of us like Michelle and I that like that)
ReplyDeleteI really liked Jeff's connection of Tyrone to Dimesdale--they were both haunted by something larger than themselves. I liked how Mr. O'Neil dipicted Tyrone's grief. I thought it was really realistic. A lot of us don't wear our pain out on our sleeves. The fact that he expressed his pain to Josie was a huge turning point. As Kristin said, the truth will set you free and that is sort of a happy ending within itself.
ReplyDeleteI finished this play a few days ago. I usually don't enjoy reading plays, but play was fun to read. The characters were all very realistic. As Kristin said a while back, I liked how strong Josie was physically and emotionally. Her father was strict and insensitive toward most people, including Josie's brothers who left the family farm. However, Hogan definitely had a soft spot for his only daughter Josie was strong but also had a soft spot, as Kristin also mentioned. She wanted, as most girls do, to fall in love. Jim Tyrone had experienced some emotional drama from the loss of his mother, and Josie seemed to be the only person who could mollify his pain. Despite what Hogan did in lying to Josie about what Jim had told him, I believe he really did want her to be happy. He recognized the love that they shared for each other, whether his intentions were honorable or not. Spending the night with Jim also helped Josie to appreciate her father more. With Jim gone, her father is the only other man in her life that she has any care in the world for. This story was touching and although Jim and Josie weren't together by the end, the ending was satisfying.
ReplyDeleteOh and one more thing... The connection that I made while reading was between this story and "The Grapes of Wrath". From the beginning, I pictured the farm setting in the play as it was described in "The Grapes of Wrath". The Hogan farm didn't seem to be in as poor condition as the land from "Grapes of Wrath", but the settings came together for me. Josie, at 28 years old, could have been a motherly figure. Therefore, I connected her with Mama from "The Grapes of Wrath". Both women were strong, hard-working, kind-hearted, and intelligent. Both went through losses, Josie with her mother and Mama with various members of her family as they traveled across the country and relocated over and over to find work. Both provided for their families, Josie feeding her father and helping her brothers and Mama feeding her family and keeping the morale up. For me, "A Moon for the Misbegotten" and "The Grapes of Wrath" had notable similarities.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised that I actually really liked this play. It was a quick, fun read. Even though the Hogan's family at first seemed really dysfunctional, Josie and her father actually have a good relationship. I really loved Josie's character. She is a strong female lead, who doesn't care what other people thought and never holds back. I also like that Tyrone was the only one who saw her softer, nurturing side. I was shocked when I learned that Josie was actually a virgin. I also really liked Jim Tyrone's character. It is obvious that he really did love Josie, but didn't think that he would be good for her. I loved that they were both able to open up to each other about things that they had never told anyone else.
ReplyDeleteWhen it came to who Tyrone was selling the Hogan's land to, I honestly did not know who to believe. I had no clue who was telling the truth and who was plotting revenge. I wanted to believe Tyrone, but I had no clue why Hogan would tell Josie that Tyrone was selling their land and plot to blackmail him. It wasn't until the end that I found out what was happening. I liked the fact that Tyrone sold the land to Hogan and Hogan was planning to get them together.
I usually don't like books or plays where the characters don't get their happy endings. I want the romantic "happily ever after" ending. So, at first, I was upset with the ending of this play. But I realized that this was a better ending for both of them. Tyrone was always drunk and it's not fair that Josie would have to deal with that.
Megan Giangrande
I agree with pretty much everyone that the ending was the right one. As much as they might have loved each other, Josie was very strong-willed and Tyrone was very drunk. That would have ended with one or both of them getting hurt, both physically and emotionally.
ReplyDeleteI also very much enjoyed the simplicity of the play. Like Cristina said-- there were only three and a half speaking roles, and a very limited space and time frame. This restraint, I suppose you could call it, on O'Neill's part put the focus very much on the characters and their personal struggles, and made the play that much more enjoyable.
Even though Josie has a tough outer appearance, she is affectionate on the inside. If Josie was a dainty, polite young woman, then I wouldn’t have been so compelled to feel a desire for her to find love. Josie went through many stages in her affairs with Jim and it was entertaining to watch it all unfold. Hogan and Josie shared a harsh relationship, but I could still feel that they both cared for each other’s happiness. Hogan had good intentions, but he just seemed to mess things up by telling lies and keeping secrets. It was satisfying when the truth came out at the end and it just goes to show how a bit of communication really does clear up misconceptions.
ReplyDeleteI was thoroughly entertained on every page of this play. I liked how O’Neill only included the minimum amount of characters needed for the point of the story to come across. It was easier for me to connect to the characters because I wasn’t constantly being introduced to someone new. There was one thing that did irk me a bit…the way O’Neill thoroughly described the characters down to the size of their nose. I prefer to imagine and create the character’s appearances based on their actions and dialogue. Other than that minor fault, this play is definitely something I’ll read again if I ever need to kill some time.
-Kayla Croft
Before I even started reading this play the title "A Moon for the Misbegotten" brought a certain image to mind. I pictured a person all alone gazing at the moon, perhaps searching for some answers or some sort of sign. Then as I started to read, my image was not that far off, while Josie was not alone that night, she was pondering her future and questioning her father and Jim.
ReplyDeleteThis play was the most realistic out of the three stories. It really captured the harsh life of living out in the country, of course it's not 1923 anymore but I think some of us can still relate to the brothers who have always wanted to escape the day-to-day, steady grind of their little town, and then Josie who has always wanted to (or thought it was her obligation) to stay behind to help her father and protect her family's livelihood.
I liked the simpleness of the story. While the characters had complex emotions and the plot seemed twisted at times, the story it's self was short and self containing. Many other people have mentioned that the story was self containing, but this has also reminded me of something that I learned from Mrs. Morrison, I think it's called an idyll (please correct me if I'm wrong!) hopefully someone knows what I'm talking about, I'm pretty sure that the definition of an idyll is a small self containing town with an example every kind of person in that one place. I might be thinking of something else, but for some reason idyll is coming to mind.
Although I would have preferred to have Jim and Josie together in the end, after I thought about it I realized that Hogan needed Josie just as much, and perhaps even more, than Jim did. Overall I was satisfied with the message the story was sending about loyalty. The ending stayed true to this theme.
Briana Penney
Before reading this play, I had never thought of what the title meant. I didn't really understand what "misbegotten" meant, nor did I think to look it up. I like how Brendan gave the definition of "misbegotten"; “unlawfully conceived and planned” and “contemptible.” Knowing what "misbegotten" means, I think that the word fits the play. There is a lot scheming throughout the story. But I don't really understand the full title, "A Moon for the Misbegotten". A moon for bad people? In the play, the moon is referred to a lot while Josie and Tyrone are spendingthe night together. Perhaps the "moon" in the title symbolizes something good and pure in a life so hard full of lies and problems.
ReplyDeleteJeff, I just read your comparison between Tyrone and Dimmesdale and it's so true! I hadn't thought of their similarities while I was reading A Moon for the Misbegotten, but now I really see that they're a lot alike.
ReplyDeleteTaking your comparison between this play and The Scarlet Letter a little further, I think that Josie and Hester are a lot alike as well. Like Meghan Pugliese said, Josie welcomes her bad reputation and doesn't care what people say about her. Hester, too, is alienated by society for being a whore and she, like Josie, learns to ignore the bad things that people say about her and get on with her life.
Briana, I pictured the moon too before I read, and I thought about how the moon is so universal. When you look up at the moon, hundreds of people are also looking at the same moon from all over. I think it's something that can unify people, and that's exactly what it did in the book.
ReplyDeleteAlthough several different people can be gazing at the moon at the same time, the moon belonged to Josie and Jim that night. It was such a personal moment they shared, and I think the moon made the setting complete.
Alex and Taylor, I love the ideas you brought up about the moon, it being a symbol of good and the fact that so many people can be looking at the moon at the same time. The moon symbolizes so many things and this reminded me that no matter where you are the moon is going to look the same to a person halfway around the world. Perhaps the scene with Josie and Jim and the moon was a huge forshadow to the fact that they would not end up together, but no matter how much distance is between them, they will always have the moon to connect them.
ReplyDeleteBriana Penney
Honestly, i really enjoyed this play. THis veers away from the typical 'Romeo and Juliet' love story and goes down a different path entirely. Unlike Romeo, Jim has many flaws, including his alchoholism and slight insomnia. Rather than being a smiling yes-girl, Josie is more independent and rebellious than Juliet. The ending also seemed more realistic to me. Sad though it may be, there are some things even love can't fix, and Josie seems to be pretty aware of this, and she loves him enough to want him to be happy, even though Jim wants to die.- Nikki Halliday
ReplyDeleteI am ending up agreeing with you all. The end is great for this play. Like Casey said, they would end up hurt physically and emotionally, and that the unsatisfying ending is just the way it has to be. I am accepting that the end brought the truth of the two people, and that was the purpose of the story.
ReplyDeleteI really be live Josie is such a strong person. She went though her life living with the image that other people placed upon her. Even though it was wrong. But with that strength is the motherly kindness that she showed with Tyrone.
Also: the Long Day’s Journey Into the Night is about Tyrone’s family about ten years before A Moon for the Misbegotten. Tyrone had a mother that was a morphine addict. She got addicted after a bad doctor prescribe morphine to her after a painful childbirth (Jim’s brother). And the lost of this person was the reason for his grieving in A Moon for the Misbegotten. The story also includes Jim’s brother Edmund, who has tuberculosis and is very sick. And the family fights about his health throughout the story. Even at this time and before, Jim also drank and spent times with whores. He said he was this way because he was jealous of Edmund. And Jim’s father is a man who is caution about money. And he is usually blamed for choosing the cheap way out, such as cheap doctors and maids. The play Long Day’s Journey into the Night ends very bitter. The men, Jim and his brother and father, drunk and fighting. And his mother high off of morphine and hallucinating. I found that this play shows an inside to Jim’s state of being. The reason why he drinks and why so much grief was in him. And just knowing some details help give me a better character to Jim and his relationships to other people.
A Moon for the Misbegotten didn't really strike me as that interesting. Granted, much better than some of the Shakespearean plays and fantasy-enriched stories we've had to read over the years...but, it didn't really throw a lot of suspense or excitement on the table. The majority of the play was setting the foundation for the conniving scheme Josie's father tried to pull...however, how exciting can it get staged in the same place for the entire story? I understand that the purpose of a play is telling the whole story in the realm of a common setting...but the insulting and seductive banter between the characters dragged me into boredom after a while. A play of pure stretches of dialogue should incorporate some more background or insight into the characters somehow. Despite all this, I must say it was definitely a well-put together ending to the story, much more realistic than the rest of the story. All the cards are unveiled in Act Four and the reader can finally comprehend the compassion and understanding Tyrone and Josie have for each other. The mystery of Jim's Broadway lifestyle don't seem to hinder Josie's feelings about him in any way...perhaps the combined poor reputations they share (one looked back on resentfully, the other proudly) strings together a common ground for the two of them to be fully honest. It is obvious that Jim would never reveal the indecency he feels over his Broadway lifestyle and his reaction to his mother's death with local townsfolk, but his love for Josie overwhelms his ability to contain himself. Although at the end of the book it Jim leaves Josie, its apparent they are still madly in love with each other. Whether Josie's wish of eternal solitude for Jim is reached is left to the reader's imagination, but I think it's fair to say such a heavy weight lifted off him will no doubt partially cleanse his mind and way of life. I think Josie, left to share her motherly attention with her father, may eventually come out and speak out against the rumors of her sexual reputation. Needless to say, the night under the moon with Jim Tyrone, and her ever-lasting longing for love-- will follow in the footsteps of her ordinary farm-girl life forever.
ReplyDeleteBecky, thank you for the background on Jim! Not having read the Long Day’s Journey Into the Night myself, I would never have known where exactly Jim's grief in a Moon for the Misbegotten was coming from. I do like that although sad, Jim's mother's addiction was very realistic, as that still happens today. It sounds like if Jim's father had perhaps found a more expensive, better quality doctor, then maybe the mother would not have gotten addicted to morphine. I sort of wonder why Jim would be jealous of Edmund when Edmund had TB, unless the jealousy was because Edmund was getting everyone's attention. I appreciate knowing all of this background on Jim and his family. It really helps show why Jim has so much grief built up inside him and why he doesn't necessarily want to share it with the whole world. Some of it is very personal information.
ReplyDeleteTo everyone who talked about the moon so far, I love that connection. No matter where you are in the world, everyone else is always looking at the exact same moon on any single night. I think Briana's idea of the moon scene foreshadowing that Josie and Jim wouldn't end up together is awesome. I also agree with Alex's take on the moon. I think it was symbolizing the unity Josie and Jim shared that night; it represented something good for both of them rather than the all struggles of their every day lives.
Carolyn Sireci
I sort of have a different feeling than almost everyone else. (I just found the paper with the website on it, which is why I'm posting so late) I didn't enjoy reading the play, which is odd because I normally really enjoy reading plays. I couldn't really connect with any of the characters, and it bored me that the entire play was set in the same spot, like Josh said. I actually preferred many of the Shakespeare works we have read over this book. To me, there was almost a fakeness or unrealisticness about the characters- they almost seemed a little stereotypical to me- the crabby father, the brash and bold daughter who cares for him, and the drunken, big-shot lover from the city. I didn't like that there was little suspense, and I definitely felt that the ending left me unsatisfied. I would've like it better if we had known what eventually happened to Josie and Jim. I also felt that there was a little too many sudden mood changes throughout the story- a character would be joking in one line and steaming mad in the next. While that may happen in real life, it almost seemed, to me, to be taken to the extreme in this play. I don't know if that was a conscious choice on the part of the author, to shed light on human emotion, or if he was really trying to portray actual, day-to-day emotions. One thing I did like about the play was that Josie was strong enough to stand up for and defend herself. Overall, I didn't really enjoy reading this play.
ReplyDeleteEmily Davidson
I realized why I really couldn't get that into this play- because I couldn't connect to the characters. I really didn't have anything in common with any of the characters except we all live in Connecticut. I think that since I am so unfamiliar with the life that Josie led, it was difficult for me to be interested/connect.
ReplyDeleteI can say that I was a little lost while reading- I couldn't tell when Josie's father was telling the truth. I think that it would be easier if you were watching the play when you could hear the tone of the character's voices.
Taylor, I totally agree with your thoughts on being able to hear the characters voices. I found it confusing at times to understand the tone of the dialogue, and that made it difficult to follow the conversations, especially toward the end.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I was not looking forward to Moon for the Misbegotten. However, I tackled it with an open mind, and found that I was immediately drawn into the story and truly enjoyed it. I finished the play within a couple of hours.
ReplyDeleteI recognize that Phil Hogan is meant to be an unlikable character, but I actually grew quite fond of him over the course of the story. He's witty, intelligent, and his entire scheme was meant to help Josie and Jim finally show their love for each other. While he isn't exactly the patron saint of honesty, cleanliness, and warm fuzzies, he truly loves his daughter, and he wants her to be happy.
My first impression of Josie and Jim's relationship was sort of comical - the way they went after each other with insults and sarcasm reminded me of a middle school crush. I couldn't help but picture them as two bickering children. Of course, as the story progressed, it became evident that they shared something far deeper and more meaningful than either of them was willing to let on at first. It was not your classic love story, and while I'm a sucker for Romeo & Juliet, this is definitely just as gripping in an entirely different way.
The ending was bittersweet, and I liked it. I didn't think it was dissatisfying...it left just enough to the imagination.
I finished reading A Moon for the Misbegotten a few days ago and I really don’t have that much to say about it. This play never grabbed my attention or was interesting to me. I read this book in about two hours, and I felt it went by too fast. Although I would much rather read this play, than any Shakespearean play, it was hard for me to connect with any of the characters because the story moved so fast. The dialogue showed each character’s own individualities but it was harder for me to connect with any of them. Josie was described in the beginning as “almost a freak” which gave me the wrong impression of her. Even though I understand that she was just unusually taller than the rest of her family, it almost gave me the impression that she had features of a giant. This image made it hard to connect with any relationship or ideas that Josie was trying to portray in this play.
ReplyDeleteThe whole play seemed to drag on for me but the ending did come as a shock. The whole time Josie and Jim were talking in the moonlight, I thought they would end up together, and there would be a happy ending like the other two stories had. I enjoyed how the truth came out in the end and made all the characters happier and understanding with themselves, but I would have much rather seen Josie and Jim together. I suppose this play had its own kind of happy ending but I can’t help but wonder why O’Neil decided to end the play in this way.
I definitely agree with Kaitlin in that the play was hard to connect with. Each of the characters was very different, yet I couldn't even find one to relate with. Usually when i read a play or novel there is always that one character who I instantly fall in love with and want the best for. I didn't get that in this play. O'Neil made Josie, Hogan, and Jim to all seem very careless and rude. Hogan showed his love for his daughter in strange ways. He set this whole scheme up just to bring the love, which Jim and Josie shared, to the surface. To me it seemed quite extravagant to go to such lengths in order to achieve his goal. There was so much lying and secrecy, which made the play frustrating for me. The ending was the only part of the play I liked because the truth finally got out. Agreeing with Kaitlin again, it would have been more satisfying if Jim and Josie had been together at the conclusion of the play. Overall, the play was average and easy to understand compared to other plays I've read through my English classes, but the plot was not all that interesting to me.
ReplyDeleteAli, I didn't even think to dig deeper when comparing A Moon for the Misbegotten and The Scarlet Letter. I can definitely see the connection that you made between Hester and Josie. Both of them are ostracized from their respective communities because of past transgressions and because of who they are. Both of them are also considered, like Josie called herself, whores. I don't know why but I found it somewhat amusing that Josie embraced this trait while Hester, as I would assume the vast majority of other women would, detests it.
ReplyDeleteJeff Gilcreast
I definitely see the similarites between Josie and Hester. I think the two different time periods and settings have something to do with how Josie embraces her image. It was much more serious to have Josie's reputation during Hester's time. Josie lived in a community where not many act responsible especially with the numerous drunken men around. Even though Josie is not one to care too much of what others think of her, if she lived in Hester's time I'm sure she would feel the pain Hester did.
ReplyDeleteSo with all the comparison between Josie and Hester that I've read here, I got to thinking: what if the two women met? I have a feeling Hester would be utterly appalled by Josie's attitude towards their shared reputation. How dare Josie take it so lightly? I'm sure Josie would be equally struck by Hester's severe manner. I imagine the dialogue between them would be pretty funny...Josie trying to tell Hester to lighten up, and Hester trying to impress upon Josie the shame of being called a whore. Anyone else agree?
ReplyDeleteI agree! Aside from their reputation, Hester and Josie are very different. If the two of them were to have a conversation I'm sure it would be extremely comical. Especially since they come from two different time periods, their difference in speech would be interesting to listen to. Considering they both handle their reputation in oppostie ways, there would be much for them to discuss. I wonder if one of them would be able to change the other's opinion on their reputaion.
ReplyDeleteA moon for the Misbegotten is a relatively simple and short book with a lot of meaning. As many of you have already said, there were very few characters, and the story spans a very short amount of time. This was one of the things I like most about the book. Several people have said that the few characters make it easy to connect to and to follow the story. While I do agree with this, I liked the fewer characters and shorter time span for a different reason. The book was “stripped down” in a way. You weren’t distracted by unimportant characters, or needless description. To me, this book was the epitome of the saying “less is more”. When you can only focus on the few things given to you, it makes every emotion more raw, and every action more significant. I really liked the way the story, which was simple in a way, was so fulfilling and entertaining.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first finished A Moon for the Misbegotten, I wasn’t really sure how I felt. The story was so different than anything I’ve ever read. Because the book was so short and with many twists, I never really had time to predict an ending. If I had predicted an ending it probably would have been anything but what really happened. At first I didn’t get it. It seemed really wrong. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense, and the more I liked it. From the beginning of the story, I knew that this was not going to be like most things I read. The characters were harsh and had strong personalities. This is why the ending fits. From the beginning it doesn’t seem like a relationship between Jim and Josie would work out. That is why I am glad it didn’t happen at the end. That would have made it inconsistent with the rest of the story. The ending, as many of you have said, is a good one. I like it because of the way Josie and Jim are finally set free. I think they both had feelings for each other, but deep down knew it wouldn’t work out. Through their love they opened up to each other. They quit pretending to be who they weren’t. Jim confesses the way he handled his mother’s death, and Josie admitted that she was a virgin. This sharing of secrets to be “set free” created a connection between the two. They will forever be connected even though they won’t be together. This ending is perfectly consistent with the rest of the story, and was happy in its own way.
Emily, I like the comment about Jim and Josie getting set free. As some/most/all? of us learned back in maybe sophomore year, the truth will set you free. In the case of this play, the truth did in fact set Jim and Josie free. They told the truth about what they'd been hiding from everyone for so long, and could finally be at peace with themselves and their messed up relationship. If you can call it a relationship I guess. But anyway, I just thought the setting free was really good, and it went along consistently with the rest of the play and its ending.
ReplyDelete"A Moon for the Misbegotten" is not an 'immediate impact' play. By this, I mean that the ending didn't instantly resonate with me on an emotional level, unlike, say, "All My Sons". "All My Sons" immediately hits the audience with dramatic emotions - "He killed his own son! Now he's dead! Holy cow!". "A Moon for the Misbegotten" gives you a seemingly simple ending - "So I guess she doesn't get the guy...she seems okay with that." I had to think about the ending for a while before I actually understood its significance, and before it made me feel anything at all. At the end of the play, Josie is not actually happy. Under the symbolically pure, honest, cleansing moonlight, Josie is forced to realize that she needs more than a life spent working on a farm to make her happy - she wants to love someone and be loved in return. So basically, the ending went from "kind of a bummer" to "aha! self-realization!".
ReplyDeleteWas anybody else annoyed that Josie's brothers are content to leave her alone with their dad, and never say, "Wait a minute, maybe we should take her with us!"?
Nina Barbero
Nina Barbero
Kaitlin and Dory, I agree with you both. The characters were difficult to connect with (or feel sympathetic toward) and I felt like the plot took place in too short an amount of time for the audience to really become interested in it. Like Taylor said, it'd be interesting to see the play on stage and watch the actors bring the story to life.
ReplyDeleteSeveral of you mentioned that the constant change in emotion was confusing and a little annoying - I agree. On the one hand, I can understand that in heated discussions, such as those had by Josie and Phil, emotions run very high, and I think that Eugene O' Neill was trying to be as honest as he could with what his characters would be feeling. On the other hand, the consistent italics, "Now he's angry, now he's suddenly introspective..." made it hard to get into the flow of the play. That's another reason it would be interesting to see "A Moon for the Misbegotten" on stage - to hear the dialogue and have the tone of voice convey emotion, as oppose to reading what the characters are feeling and then putting that into the dialogue in your head.
Nina Barbero
Nina, I was a little annoyed her brothers didn't even ask to take Josie along too. Her brothers knew they couldn't leave their father all by his himself on their farm. Josie also knew she couldn't leave her father alone on the farm. It was sort of a mutual understanding between them that didn't have to be discussed. Josie was the only one who could handle him and put up with his obnoxious comments. I didn't think it meant her brothers didn't care for her, but it was just the way things had to be.
ReplyDeleteNina and Dory, I agree with you both. I did take a minute to stop and consider why the brothers didn’t even think to take Josie along. If they felt that their father was so bad, why didn’t they at least ask? However, Josie was such a strong woman, and much stronger than any of her brothers. Mike even says that she is the only one that can handle their father. This helps to explain why none of the brothers asked Josie to come along. They knew that she could take care of herself. What bothered me was that Mike didn’t do anything to prepare to leave. Josie planned Mikes departure, stole money for him, and even packed his bag. She says that she had done the same thing for her other brothers as well. It made sense that Mike didn’t ask her to come along too, but it didn’t make sense to me why he didn’t get things together by himself. He came across as very weak. In one sense, his weakness makes Josie look even stronger, which helps to add to her image.
ReplyDeleteJust finished the play--I enjoyed it a fair amount--it was, unsurprisingly, extremely well written. It was a bit melencholy for my liking. The combination of the setting, and downtrodden but genuinely good people as characters made it strangely relatable, even if the situations in the story may be different from what we have encountered. Josie's relationship with her father was wonderful--I found it quite impressive that she was able to deal with him. By far, she was the strongest character in the story. Nonetheless, I felt a huge vulnerability to her--by the end, she was willing to give Jim the love and comfort he needed, if only to have him love her in return. I did find the descriptions of Josie's behavior towards him as "maternal" a bit odd--she felt, presumably,romantic love towards him, so the multiple times she acted motherly towards him didn't seem to fit. Overall, a great play, with a certain statement about life and human nature--perhaps that we're all entirely messed up in our own way, and need each other in the end to help us get through life? Josie's father depended on her for this sort of help from the start, and by the end, it would seem that Josie benefitted in some way from her relationship with Jim.
ReplyDeleteKaitlin Flynn
I didn't particularly like "A Moon for the Misbegotten" but it isn't a horrible read. We've read many plays in previous English classes and I always seem to like that better than a regular novel. I enjoyed reading the play style on my own and I might try it again.
ReplyDeleteI've never quite seen a twisted relationship such as that of Josie and Phil Hogan. I agree with Taylor Hammeke in a previous post that I'm not familiar with their personalities and lifestyles. Josie's character is similar in my mind to Eustacia, and even Nico, because I didn't really like either of their personalities but I managed to have sympathy for them at the same time. As Eustacia is trapped in Egdon Heath yearning to escape, Josie is "trapped" with taking care of her father at home, and Nico is, in a way, trapped inside Margaret's body. Did anyone else see this connection?
Jenna Lovett
I feel relatively safe to say this was my favorite of the three books (and not just because of the length). I thought this book moved at a much faster progression, making it easy to follow and enjoy. I believe the characters also played a role in this. Josie and Hogan were both humorous and touching. I actually laughed when they were constantly bickering. Their relationship reminded me more of husband and wife than a father and daughter. At the end though, when Hogan tells his real intentions, I felt the author showed the true depth of their relationship. The author did a fantastic job with their dialect and speech (Irish background), it really added to the story. I imagine this would be a great show to see live. The plot to this story was similar to the other two books, with love being the driving factor for the story. I think this story was a bit more approachable though. It had the reader (at least me) hoping that Josie and Tyrone could be together. It reminded me of Romeo and Juliet, with the lovers separated by things out of their control. I actually enjoyed reading this story and I hope throughout the year we read more similar to this.
ReplyDeleteTo Kaitlin F, I agree with you that Josie benefited from her relationship with Jim. They both had feelings for each other so when they came together, they found themselves in a comfortable setting. Because of this, they were both able to open up to each other and be freed of their pasts. Both of them had been pretending to be someone they weren't. The benefit you are talking about is that they finally accepted who they were, and were freed. Jim accepted his actions about his mother’s death, and Josie admitted that she was a Virgin. This changed both of them, and that is the benefit you are talking about.
ReplyDeleteKaitlin T, Dory, and Nina mentioned this, but I agree that the character’s personalities were hard to connect to. I think this was because there were so few of them. The author was able to completely develop each of the characters in a way that they had distinct personalities. Josie was harsh and a strong woman. Her character was so different than almost anything I’ve ever read. I liked it though. Because the characters were so different, it made them interesting. In some cases, people like the ability to connect a lot to the characters. In this circumstance, I didn’t mind that I found it hard to connect to them. I found it all the more intriguing.
Jenna, I love the connection you made between Eustacia, Nico, and Josie. It makes complete sense, and I didn’t notice it before. I like how you can also connect the relationships that each of these characters are in. Eustacia is stuck in a relationship with Clym while she desperately wants a better life. Nico is falling for Aaron who is trying to turn her into her dead sister. Also, Josie’s “relationship” with Jim is one that is doomed from the start. Each of these character’s relationships are parallel in the way that they are unsuccessful.
I think I may be a few posts too late but I agree with Julia and Dory that an interaction between Josie and Hester would be interesting and humorous. At first I thought they had many similarities but now that I read your posts I realized that the only thing they have in common is their situation. Besides that, they could not be more different
ReplyDeleteI also thought it was interesting that Nina brought up the point about Josie and her brothers. I didn't give it too much thought when I first read it but now that I give it some thought, it is somewhat odd that her brothers just left her behind. Maybe it was to show how much more masculine she was compared to her brothers? I don't know if masculine is really the most politically correct word but it was the only one that comes to mind.
Jeff Gilcreast
This play was just okay for me, even though I liked it more than the Shakespearean plays we've read. I liked it until I got to the last act. When I first finished the play, I felt confused, like I had missed something. I had to go back and reread it to make sure I understood what had happened. I think because of my initial confusion I didn't really have any immediate feelings about whether I liked the ending or not. After thinking about it awhile, I decided that I wouldn't have cared either way if Jim stayed or not, though I do think that his leaving fits better and is more consistent with his personality.
ReplyDeleteWhen I opened to the first page and read that the time span was one night into the next day, I was confused as to how a whole play (albeit short) could take place in such a short amount of time, but I liked how it played out (no pun intended).
I agree with Cristina's comment that the small number of characters really helps us to get to know them better and makes it a more intimate story.
I like Josie and how she was a strong, independent woman that could hold her own against the men in her life, but underneath her tough-girl attitude she had a softer side. I wonder if Josie would have had more of a feminine side if her mother hadn't died and she hadn't been left the only woman in the family. I felt bad that she didn't feel beautiful and only let men get close enough to her so that she felt wanted and then pushed them away. I wonder if she'll go back to those ways now knowing that she was wanted by Jim, and he was the only man who mattered to her. I like that Josie and Jim had an actual emotional connection, not just the physical ones between Jim and the Broadway tarts and Josie and the many men she pursued.
I liked the scene where Josie and her father were teasing Harder and making him angry. It really characterized their relationship and how well they could come up with things on the spot. I liked the contrast with the other part of their relationship that was shown when Hogan admitted that he'd cooked up a scheme to get Josie and Jim together. I believe that his intentions were pure, though money could have been a factor in his subconscious mind.
I wonder if Jim was attracted to Josie because he felt that behind her tough exterior she was kind-hearted like his mother had been. I was kind of surprised that Jim continued drinking even though the last time his mother saw him he had been drinking, something he felt extremely guilty about. I wonder if Jim, now feeling more at peace with his mother's death and not having to drink the pain away, will stop drinking and respect his mother's dislike for alcohol. Probably not, but if he did that would show how much of a profound effect Josie had on him.
continued:
ReplyDeleteBecky- Thanks for looking up what the prequel play was about! It definitely made it easier to see where all of Jim's bottled-up pain came from. I like how it was titled "A Long Day’s Journey Into the Night," and then the sequel was "A Moon for the Misbegotten." It seems like the titles are in chronological order of time of day.
Briana- I like your inference that the moon would be a way of connecting them wherever they went and that scene was foreshadowing to show that they wouldn't end up together. I wonder if O'Neill intended that.
Emily D- I agree that their sudden change of emotion seemed exaggerated. I think that was what made it harder for me to understand the ending because I wasn't sure what emotion they were trying to convey during each line.
Nina- The stage directions and emotions in italics are why I don't usually enjoy plays--it disrupts the flow of the story too much for me. I agree that seeing the play on stage would make it much easier to understand their emotions and allow us to have more of an emotional response to the play.
Dory- I like your point about the two different time periods being the reason why Josie and Hester reacted differently to their situations; it's very true and that reason never occurred to me.
Nina, I thought the same thing about her brothers not taking her along! She was the one who helped them get out of that house and away from her father and they didn't even think to help her. Even if they thought she was the only one that could handle their father, they should have helped her leave because she deserved better than being stuck in that town with her father. I thought it showed that her brothers were weak, and unable to deal with Josie and her father's way of living.
ReplyDeleteMegan Giangrande
I really enjoyed this play. Unlike other plays I have read, I didn't find myself losing focus on the plot. When Jim was first introduced into the story, I was instantly reminded of Eustacia when she saw Clym. The way Josie spoke about Jim saying that she was going to end up with him was similar to the way Eustacia set a goal for herself to fall in love with Clym although she had not met him. Josie was particularly my favorite character of the book. Her attitude and sass was interesting to read as well as the way she carried herself in terms of her virginity. Her character was quite entertaining because her personality was so strong. I liked how she didn’t change who she was for Jim when she saw him even when her father told her to act differently. I enjoyed the fights she had with her father. Although some were cruel, I found it humorous the way the two spoke to one another.
ReplyDeleteOne of the few things I could relate to was Josie’s relationship with her brother at the beginning of the story. Josie helped him escape the house which I could relate to because of the relationship I have with my brother. Knowing that my brother, Eric, gets away with pretty much anything, he and I make bets in order to benefit the other.
I agree with Taylor about not being able to relate to the characters. Although I can relate because we all live in Connecticut, I did not understand Josie's lifestyle. Each character was so developed character that it was hard to relate to them. These characters seemed as if they did live their own life and I was just watching everything play out as a fly on the wall. I agree with Emily, that the fact that they were so hard to understand it was very intriguing. Since there were few characters, it was easy to focus on one or two and attempt to decipher what they were thinking and feeling during specific situations.
-Amanda Landry
I saw the connection Jenna! Also, I enjoyed this play more then a streetcar named desire for the reason that I thought you could interpret the charachters in a lot more ways. I mean this in the fact that you could look into their actions and see what they're doing as good or bad but you needed to look at longterm or short term outcomes. Also, I personally liked to use funny voices for each charachter because it made things easier to get through.
ReplyDeleteColton Bridge
So, this is set up in the Mid West, right? To go along with what Emily discussed on how potentially hard it was connect with these… “unique” and “rough” characters (in my view) that O’Neill has created for us, throughout the length of the play, I struggled with finding a analog in my life that I could associate any of the characters with, Jim, Josie, or Hogan. My personal inability to visualize the setting of the play, Hogan’s house, in its environment, may not have helped either. But in any case, I found myself filling in the story with stereotypes to understand it as I went along. To picture Hogan’s house in my mind, still, all I can think of is a Midwestern shack, circa Great Depression time, or alternatively, those you might see in lesser well-off areas of Northern Maine (having been there). That’s not to say I didn’t like the play, on the contrary, for many reasons, I did.
ReplyDeleteIn Cristina’s post far up (#4, actually), and, as Danielle's most recently mentioned, the small number of characters, 3 Main Characters (Josie, Jim, Hogan), 2 Minor Characters (Mike and Harder), really does wonders for overcoming the aforementioned issue of immersing yourself in the story, at least for myself. It keeps the plot on course, goes alongside said course quite quickly, and never bothers us with meaningless subplots (something that can’t be said for a certain other book). O’Neill leads us through a completely believable human story, in an entire day and night no less. To lesser degrees, I loved Hogan as a character, witty, sarcasm, scheming, and, in the end (surprisingly), compassionate. He’s a man I wouldn’t mind meeting in real life. And, of course, the length of the entire play was fantastic too. For such a higher quality narrative to be told in near 2 hours, amazes me. I even briefly considered re-reading it to perhaps gain a better understanding, simply because I could with ease.
Danielle, I love the idea of thinking what Josie would be like with more of a maternal influence. It makes sense. Her father and her brothers may have been what led her to be so strong and harsh. If she had more of a maternal influence, her character may have been a lot different, and definitely a lot softer like you said. It is really interesting to think about.
ReplyDeleteThe characters in this play were difficult to connect to, but I enjoyed the story itself nonetheless. O'Neill did a great job portraying the relationships between characters. Tensions between Josie and Hogan, as well as between Josie and Tyrone seemed almost tangible at times. As someone had previously mentioned, I found myself hoping that Josie and Tyrone would be able to work through their issues with each other and the people around them in order to find love. I found myself feeling increasingly sympathetic towards Josie as the story progressed, despite the fact that she wasn't a particularly likeable character. I grew angry with her father on several occasions when it seemed like he was manipulating her or treating her unfairly. I felt pity for Josie when I realized that under her rough exterior, she was really just looking to love someone and be happy.
ReplyDeleteThe ending here was far from a predictable, fairytale ending. Yet it fit the story. It didn't necessarily leave me in a positive mood, but it felt like a fitting way for the story to draw to a conclusion. I also believe that the more dreary ending contributed to stronger emotions about the story, as I found myself thinking more deeply about the characters and their relationships with one another than I might have if all had ended perfectly.
Additionally, like others, I was very surprised at the time span of this story. I expected that a book of that length couldn't span for such a short period of time without being painfully boring. Yet, the story never seemed to drag. I was very impressed with O'Neill in reading this story.
Okay, I just read all of your posts and now I'm going to comment on a few that stood out to me. Here it goes...
ReplyDeleteCristina, I strongly agree with your first point that the limited amount of characters and story lines were a good thing. Emily Howard, I also agree that I wasn't distracted with unimportant characters intertwined in the story. I think this and the length of the book allows it to flow smoothly, and I was able to understand the story better because of it.
Becky, I agree with you that so many important events took place in such a short time span, and 150 pages. I believe that's why the story was so engaging because you couldn't zone out for a second or you'd miss something really significant!
Taylor Hammeke, I was so disappointed in the ending that I didn't think that Josie may have been somewhat happy for helping Jim like you said. I think I am too quick to judge people and characters, and I need to look more deeply into their intentions. I also agree with you that it would be easier to watch the play so we can pick up on the tone of voice. I'm sure we would probably have a much different experience than reading the play.
Brendan, I like how you looked up misbegotten to better understand the title. I think that's a good way to know what you're going to read about and what you should pick up on. I didn't really know what misbegotten meant either until I read what you wrote, and the title really makes sense now.
Michelle, I really like everything you said about the characters, especially about how you couldn't connect with them and how Tyrone could see the true Josie. I felt the same way!
Ali and Jeff, I love your connections to the Scarlet Letter, and Jess, I love yours to the Grapes of Wrath. Kudos to all of you! I love when you can pick up on similarities to pieces you've read in the past.
Dory, I also admire your comments and thinking regarding Hester and Josie. It's very interesting how two different characters can act and behave in the same way.
Katie Jacobs, I like your opinion on the ending of how you can imagine your own conclusion and aftermath. I agree with many of you that the ending is not satisfying, but it is the right one for this story. Jim Tyrone would not make a good husband, and Josie and Hogan needed to resolve their issues.
Nina, I completely agree with you that I also needed to think about the ending before I realized its significance. I usually prefer endings that are to the point and logical, but I did appreciate this one because it made me think a lot harder. I also love that you thought of Josie's brothers leaving her too. Maybe they didn't care for Josie that much, but if they did take her away we wouldn't have had much of a story!
Alex, Briana, and Taylor, I love your opinions and views about the moon! It's very interesting how one single object can unify several people, and it can symbolize numerous moods. Changes in the moon can also influence people's behaviors, I believe. Maybe this had some significance to the story.
Emily, I did not think about the similarities in Eustacia's, Nico's, and Josie's relationships as well. That is a really good point and I'm glad you brought that to my attention!
Jenna Lovett
Julia- I agree that at first Josie and Jim's relationship seemed like a lot of bickering, but then as the story progressed I also realized how deep their relationship became. I was actually a little frustrated with their relationship at the beginning, and I wondered if it was even capable of deep conversation and healing.
ReplyDeleteShelby- I also was angry at Josie's dad at times because he took advantage of her. I would question if he even loved her. I know that on the outside Josie's father was a tough man, and he 'should' love her deep down- but I just can't grasp the idea of him loving his daughter. He just seemed so manipulative- what do you guys think?
Danielle- I also felt bad that Josie didn't feel beautiful. She always had to be tough, and she couldn't focus on her feminine side.
A lot of people have commented that they like the fact that there were a small number of characters. I think that this plot allowed for a small number of characters, which makes it so unique. I personally prefer a play/book/movie with more characters because it allows for more options/scenerios. For example, if there are two main characters you know they'll end up together- however this plot was different because it was about more than living happily ever after- and it was more realistic.
Taylor, I think that's an interesting way to put it. With a wider variety of characters, more can happen so it's less predictable. Although it worked in this play, I feel like in most plays or novels it would not be as effective and interesting.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Julia, the relationship between Josie and Jim involved a large amount of fighting and I questioned if their relationship would be able to handlheyhe stress. As the play went on, I realized how deep their relationship was.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I disliked about the play was that in the beginning, I felt as if there had been a previous story that I had missed out on. Although there were many descriptions of the setting and characters, I couldn't fully grasp what was happening. The conversations towards the beginning talked of subjects that I hadnt known any information about yet. This caused me to lose interest.
Amanda Landry
At first glance Josie seems tough and stubborn, but as you read the book you see she is more innocent and sensitive. For instance, she really got her hopes up for her date with Jim. When he manipulated her and didn't show up she was heart-broken, of course before plotting for revenge. She also appears to do whatever she wants whenever she feels like it, but she actually cares somewhat of how others think of her.
ReplyDeletePhil Hogan seems rough and inconsiderate for the majority of the play. However, at the end you see a slightly different side of him. He did, in fact, want Josie and Jim to be together not only because of the money. He may just be an old, greedy drunk, but deep down he really is a protective father. I don't know if he could be described as "loving" yet, but he does have some care for his daughter. Or at least he should for her staying with him this long.
To me, Jim Tyrone is a dynamic character who I saw a change in that made me start to like him, and then he turned bad again. I began to feel sympathy for him when he told his sob story, but I lost most all of that after the way he left Josie.
I don't know if anyone else felt this way, but I didn't really see how the play was set in Connecticut. I know we were told that, but I felt it could be more like on some farm in the South. Maybe I'm just not familiar with farm-life up here in CT, but I felt the play really could have been set in any state.
Jenna Lovett
Jeff, the connection between Josie and Hester is so right. Both of the women are strong, and don’t care about the rumors that was spread about them. I didn’t think of this connection, but once you brought it up, it makes perfect sense!
ReplyDeleteNina, I agree with you and Meghan! Even from the brief encounter we had with her brother, and little information we got about her other brother, I was wondering why they never have taken her along with them. And since this was her last brother to leave, she wouldn’t need to stay and to help other siblings to make their escape. But then I wondered, did Josie stay just to be with Jim? You get an idea from the story that she has loved him for some time. And from the night the spent with each other, you learn that her feelings are really strong for him. And now that she knows she can't have jim, would she finally leave her father?
Jenna, I like the observation you made about Phil Hogan. That in the beginning of the story, you almost get a wrong impression of him on perpous. And that he is just a violent drunk who didn’t care about anything but money. But by the end of the play you get a different sense of him. And how he actually cares about his daughter’s happiness.
I also agree with the whole disagreement (if you can call it that) on the setting. From the play, you get no sense of Connecticut. This story could have taken place anywhere in rural united states at this time. And since there was no influence of the setting on the play, I almost want to say that this detail was an afterthought. Or a detail that wasn’t that important.
I really enjoyed seeing the relationship between Josie and her father. It was pleasant and almost a little surprising to see how much he really cared for her. That added a little bit of joy to an otherwise melancholy and sobering (pun not intended) play.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the setting, I agree with Becky in that it seems trivial. You definitely know that you're on a farm, one that's a little worse for the wear. But because the entirety of the play takes place in and around the farmhouse, where the house itself is located is of little consequence. This could just as easily been set in Wyoming or Pennsylvania and it would not change the actual story.
I did, however, think that Josie was a relatable character. I haven't personally had to deal with drunk prospective husbands and wandering siblings. However, I often find myself in the position of moderator, as Josie was in the beginning, helping her brother escape. She also seems to spend a good deal of time (attempting to) play the voice of reason, to her father, Tyrone, and herself; another position I can understand. So while my life isn't that of a farm girl in the 40's, some situations are just universal.
Although Josie's experience with a drunk potential husband isn't exactly relatable, it is definitely inspiring. Josie had the courage to let go of Jim and I think that knowing when to let go is something everyone should be able to do. I was proud of Josie at the end and she proved herself a very strong character mentally and physically.
ReplyDelete-Kelsey Gallant
I found this book hard to understand at first. As I read the first few pages I didn't really know where the book was going to go. Although Josie is represented as a big, tough, farm girl who doesn't let anything bother her, but in my opinion this is just her facade to hide the fact that she is insecure and does want maybe a different path in life. Josie may have really loved Jim but Jim would have never been sober enough to be the kind of man that Josie needed. Josie already had to take care of her alcoholic father and it wouldn't have been fair for her to have to take care of an alcoholic husband. I enjoyed the ending to the story because it was realistic. Josie did what anybody would have done in her shoes, if the man she loved just walked out of her life. She carried on and did what she had to do.
ReplyDeleteMolly Guittare
I feel as though if this were a play it would be extremley rough to get through. There was one scene, at the farm house through out the whole play. And there were only a select few characters, I can see why this play was not exactly a best seller or big hit. It was not my cup of tea either.
ReplyDeleteI think Josie should have left with her brother in the begging of the play, becasue that would have got her away from her drunken father, and would maybe give her a shot to see the real world as opposed to becoming adapted to the run down farm. I do however feel that since Josie had such a rough childhood and was not exactly the most lady like that she could handle that way of life. She was never happy and I don't think she ever will be, but she is however comfortable and for her I think that's all she really needs.
The love between Josie and Jim was definitley there but I don't think they had enough to create a whole life together. In the end Jim just couldn't give all of himself becasue the death of his mother hit him hard and he is a raging alcoholic like her own father. So it was good that Jim didn't not try to stay and cover up his faults, becasue in the end I think that would have just made Josie more unhappy then she already was with him leaving her.
The one and only thing I could really relate to in this play was, the fact that Josie was raised by only her father, and the farm scene. Like when the father talks about the cows getting loose and going to the pond, it reminds me of good old Lebanon when I used to have to get off the school bus becasue my horse was running down the road or the cows got loose. Anyway, Josie will remain at the farm for the rest of her life because if she was going to leave then she would have done so like her brothers, and I think it's in her roots to stay.
the post above is mine...forgot my name..
ReplyDelete-Erin Guittare (Twin # 2)