Eugene O’Neill is known not only as the first great American dramatist, but also as one of the great dramatists of all time. His works include many of the greatest literary pieces of his time. Although these accolades seem to make Eugene O’Neill as a man with much to live for and a very fruitful life, this is not entirely true. Because of his varying life experiences and many tribulations, O’Neill’s works often reflected a gloomy, depressing side of humanity, which is also startlingly realistic. Before his rise to popularity, O'Neill spent much of his time living a lowly life. It was during this time that O’Neill gathered the experience and characters he needed to begin his ascension to fame.

Eugene O’Neill, born in 1888, was the son of James O’Neill. James was a popular actor of the time, and had a flourishing career in Shakespearean theater. After years of touring, he gave up his career as a Shakespearean actor to tour in a highly profitable, but very mundane play called Monte Cristo. During this time, the seed that eventually grew into Eugene’s contempt for conventional theater was planted. Although he was only a young boy, he had already begun to dislike the methods that were used in a run-of-the-mill play.

After moving around the country with his father for a few years, O’Neill was enrolled into a boarding school where he spent six years. He then spent three years in a private high school. After graduating high school, he attended Princeton for one year before his expulsion. Later in his life, he enrolled in a writing course at Harvard, only to leave the class before it was finished. This penchant for leaving unfinished business seems to be a persistent pattern throughout most of O’Neill’s life.

When he finished with his schooling, O’Neill set off to find a career. He spent time working many different jobs, including stage manager, reporter, actor, and a sailor. During this time, he traveled around much of the world, visiting many exotic locations and meeting many different, unique people. It was also during this time that he took a trip to Honduras, with hopes of finding gold. He soon returned to America with tropical fever.

In 1912, O’Neill retired to a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. He remained there for six months, in which time he began to read c

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