This brief, all-American play probably would've been boring to see, but I truly enjoyed reading it. In the italicized phrases interspersed in the dialogue, as well as describing set and characters, there was a great deal of imagery and emotion that enriched the experience. Unlike many plays, which are simply lacking when put on paper, A Moon for the Misbegotten was a lively and thought provoking book.
Since this play has a relatively simple plot, and very little action, the true artistry is in the characters and their developments. There is only one flat character, the pompous neighbor named Harder, who adds an element of comedy and is as flat as my own pompous next-door neighbors seem to be in real life. The rest of the characters are warm, regretful, anxious, proud, sinful, loyal, and loving. Josie, the only female character, is at once proud of her strenghth and ashamed of her great size, which are almost universal sentiments among women. Jim Tyrone is both a cynic and a romantic, and Hogan is a hard-nosed, heavy-drinking, big-hearted old man. The three of them, with their all of their hope and insurmountable baggage, spend the time in the play in a mixture of intimate comfort and convoluted loneliness.
It may be personal to me, or a result of O'Neill's superior characterization, but I found myself relating to everyone in the story on a deep personal level. Josie's pride and love, Hogan's craftiness and underlying good intentions, Tyrone's dislike for himself and the world... there were so many similarities that I felt as though the play were a direct part of my life as I read it. I don't know if others have had similar experiences reading this, but I suggest you try - it's only about 150 pages - and I wouldn't be surprised if you find yourself identifying with the characters in this brilliant play.
Happy Reading!
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