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.
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ReplyDeleteI'm more than halfway through Act I and I'm already hooked on the relationship that Josie and her father Phil Hogan share. I think they are two very interesting characters who bring out a variety of qualities in each other. I last stopped at the part in the scene where Tyrone comes in. I can't wait for the action to pick up!
ReplyDelete-Mindy Sharon
I am just 30 pages in, but I agree- the characterizations of Josie and her father are already really interesting. I enjoy this play a lot more than others I have read because the characters make it so much fun. I think Eugene O'Neill has a great sense of humor. It makes the story more relatable for me.
ReplyDelete- Olivia Gray
Just finished Act I, and I really like this play. Not only is it well written it also has an interesting plot. I agree Olivia O'Neill does have a great sense of humor. I think it's interesting that Josie wants to mother Tyrone seeing as thats what she did for Mike and her other brothers, and can't wait to finish reading and find out what happens.
ReplyDelete-Genevieve Senechal
I definitely agree with Olivia and Genevieve about O'Neill's sense of humor. I loved the quarrel of Phil and Josie vs. T. Stedman Harder. Now that's a father - daughter combo I wouldn't want to mess with! I'm about 10 pages into Act II and I'm becoming frustrated with Jim Tyrone, seeing as how apparently Josie has been waiting for him for 2 hours. I'm not sure how I feel about their relationship quite yet.
ReplyDelete-Mindy Sharon
After finishing A Moon for the Misbegotten, I have a few questions (if anyone wouldn't mind making an attempt at them?)... First, at the end of the book, is there any symbolism between Jim Tyrone leaving and the sunrise of a new morning? (A new beginning possibly?) And second, I'm curious on how the title relates to the story. If anyone has any ideas, please share :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm not satisfied with the way things ended between Josie and Jim. I didn't like their constant back and forth, continuous bickering at each other. I also got the impression that Jim was putting on a facade during the entire final act. What did you guys think?
-Mindy Sharon
Did Hogan intend to return alone in the morning all along or did he have a change of heart?
ReplyDeleteMindy- I don't think that Jim was putting on a facade. I think that he truly does love Josie but was embarassed about having come to her totally drunk and dumped all of his guilt and sins on her. I think that he felt like he did not deserve her and could no longer act the same way around her.
Mindy, I'm going to attempt to answer one of your questions. I think that the title A Moon for the Misbegotten relates to Josie in particular but could also tie in with Hogan and Jim. Misbegotten means illegitimate or badly conceived, made, or carried out. I believe that the moon in the title represents opportunity for those who are misbegotten (Josie Hogan and Jim) to finally have an opportunity to let what they truly want shine through. Its as if they are getting one night to achieve all that they truly desire.
ReplyDelete-Kelsey Arnet
Mindy- i think you could relate the sunrise to Jim's leaving. At this point, Josie realizes the truth about Jim, her father, and herself. When Jim leaves and the sun rises, I agree that Josie has a sort of "new beginning", or a renewal.
ReplyDelete- Olivia Gray
Mary- I see your point of view. That was just the impression I was given, though. Maybe if I saw the play, I would've thought other wise.
ReplyDeleteKelsey- Originally, I was thinking it had to do more with Josie, but I could see how it could work for the two men also. Thanks!
Olivia- That's what I was going for, thanks!
-Mindy Sharon
Personally, I liked Josie's relationship with her father in this play. Although her brothers left their family and the farm, I was happy to see Josie remain close with her dad. They had a close yet sarcastic relationship which was interesting to read about.
ReplyDelete-Stephanie Bowering
Mary, I believe that Hogan planned to come home alone all along. Only because it seems like he put on the entire act about thinking that Jim was going to sell their farm. He must have known approximately what would have happened after saying that to Josie.
ReplyDelete-Genevieve Senechal
I really enjoyed this play. It was refreshing to have a realistic love story. Although the play was much like Romeo and Juliet with the star-crossed lovers, obviously it isn't realistic to have the lovers kill themselves instead of being together. Life goes on, and realistically, you go with it.
ReplyDeleteI liked this book a lot also because of the characters. They had unique personalities that, like Mindy said, definitely brought different aspects of the other characters' personalities out as well. Overall, very good read.
-Adison Fontaine
Surprisingly, I really enjoyed reading this play, because normally I don't like the typical relationship books. At first I thought the relationship between Josie and Hogan was really sick and twisted, the way they put each other down and then were best friends at the same time. However, as I kept reading I realized that the two had enormous respect for one another, which is what made their relationship work. The three characters in the play were so multi-faceted that it made for a really interesting story line that I now appreciate more than I thought I would.
ReplyDeleteI read this book first out of the 3 books and was pleasantly surprised with it. By the end of the play, I felt like I could understand why Josie, Hogan, and Tyrone acted so oddly at times. At the beginning of the play, I felt very disconnected from these characters because I didn't feel that I could easily relate to their negative, rude comments.
ReplyDeleteI definitely liked the ending because it was realistic with a hint of fantasy. In my eyes, the night was the fantasy with Josie and Tyrone feeling like equals. Tyrone is such a tortured, lost soul, and Josie seems to deeply connect with him on a level no one had before. Their love is unique because it is not just a selfish love of wanting someone for themself. Their love is a love of needing. They need eachother because they seem to understand one another.
I think this book was a good choice for a play for us to read. It was very interesting and unique in its style. I've definitely never read anything like it before.
-Ali Hoyt
Genevieve pointed out that Josie wants to "mother" Jim just like she did for her brothers. I think it's important because the moon has more of a feminine connotation and is considered more maternal. They're sitting out on the steps together under the moon and Josie is treating Jim like a little child and trying to take care of him. In some situations she seems to act like a mother toward her own father, taking care of him and even reprimanding him.
ReplyDeleteJulia Jacques
After completing all three books, this book was definitely my favorite. It was very easy to understand and it kept my interest. The characters Josie and Jim taught me a very important lesson that all of us can relate to. Josie tried to put up a strong front that she didn't care about Jim or what the men in town said about her. In fact, she went along with what they said. When Josie had time alone with Jim, she let her guard down, and she told him that she did truely care about him. She also told him that she never did any of the things the men in town accused her of doing. Jim also put up a front that he was a crazy drunk man. In reality, he feels poisoned by the actions he has comitted with other women, and he feels guilty for his mother seeing him drunk.
ReplyDeleteMany times in our lives we put up a front. Whether we pretend we never studied for a test we aced or we try to act brave in the face of adveristy, we have all tried to be someone other than our true self. This book shows that we don't need to hide everything about ourselves, and the right person will love us regardless of who we are.
-Lauren McNickle
One of the things I most appreciated in A Moon for the Misbegotten is the theme of alcoholism. The play did an excellent job portraying the bittersweet nature of alcohol. Although it turned out to be one of Hogan's schemes, the story of drunken Jim selling his land and betraying Josie certainly portrayed alcohol as something that can ruin lives. For Jim, alcohol was a great pleasure but became a pitiful escape after the death of his mother, in the end only making his life more miserable. Several times in the story characters feigned drunkenness in order to manipulate others. Also, Josie used alcohol to suppress her resentment for Jim, thinking Hogan's story was true. Overall, drunkenness is depicted as something that alters people in sometimes good but often unfavorable ways.
ReplyDelete-will h
ReplyDeleteI very much enjoyed reading this play more than the other 2 stories. The characters were complex and hilarious, and the element of human emotion shone throughout the play. Josie's character semmed brutal at first glance but underneath her appearance and rash language she had a good heart, an example was how she was being motherly to her brothers and mothering Jim that night under the moon. I agree with Will that alcohol was a huge part of this play and made the story very interesting and showed what different things alcohol can do to you. The way Eugene O'Neil can write is fantastic, the story was easy for anyone to understand and it kept moving at a decent pace. I felt that the characters were all believeable and it was a very interesting plot.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite aspect of this play was the relationship between Josie and her father. I thought it was very interesting and entertaining to see Josie and Hogan interact throughout the play. I thought they had a very strange father-daughter relationship, and at times I found it almost shocking. Both Josie and Hogan knew what to say in order to hurt the other, and they were never afraid to use this tactic when arguing. Although Josie and her father argued and insulted one another each time they interacted, they had a very unique connection. Josie cared deeply for her father even as he was bitter towards his family and at times cruel towards Josie. Josie seemed to have a good understanding of her father’s words and actions and usually didn’t take his insults to heart. Also, Hogan seemed to care for Josie. He didn’t care how others felt about his daughter because he was proud of her strong, though nurturing nature. It was very entertaining to see Josie and her father interact throughout the play because they have a relationship unlike any I have seen before. I think their relationship made the play very interesting and unique.
ReplyDelete-Devin Feeney
I also found Josie and her father's relationship interesting. They sometimes act like they aren't even father and daughter, and at other times, they are best friends. It was entertaining to read how they kept putting each other down and yet keep it light. It seems like Josie and her father grew up similarly because they have many of the same personality traits.
ReplyDeleteI was very annoyed by how Josie and Jim kept going back and forth about their feelings for each other. I know alcohol was a huge reason for it. Alcohol played a huge part in the story, it served as a push for Josie as well as a bitter reminder to Jim's past. For Josie, it made her more brave and light, making her hard, cold front disappear. It was annoying how at first Jim kept drunkenly giving up little snippets about his past, yet kept it from Josie and the audience. I wanted to know what had made Jim so defensive of his past. In the end, I understood why he was acting that way. This book was interesting and a good one, but I got a little confused a lot of times while reading it. Overall, it was a pretty well written play. I think if I saw it actually acted out on stage, I might have liked it more and understood it better.
~Leah Vitello~
Julia made a good observation in comparing Josie to the moon. Taking this a step further I think that the title "A Moon for the Misbegotten" means that Josie is the moon and Jim is the misbegotten. It could also be said that Josie's father and brothers were also misbegotten. She acts as a sort of mother for them as well.
ReplyDeleteLike many of you, I really enjoyed this play. Adison made a good point about this story being different from the fairy tale/crossed lovers/Romeo and Juliet stuff. While stories like that are good to read and daydream about, this was real. Real characters dealing with real problems. After reading the whole story i thought about how at the beginning of the book, my mental image and interpretation of each character was based on the outer appearance and breif glimpse the first few acts gave to the characters personalities. By the end of the story, however, my metal image and view on each character had drastically changed. Each character had a mask in which they would hide behind for the first half of the story; but by the end each on had opened up a little to show their more natural and true selves. I did find it confusing though when it came to Josie and whether or not she was a virgin. I was convinced she wasn't until Jim came over for the night. She never denied not being a virgin to him and when she was talking to her father later, she began to refer to herself as a virgin. Was that metaphorically? Did it have something to do with a more mental virginity wrapped up in the whole theme/symbolism of a new beginning in the end? If someone could throw their view in that would be great.
ReplyDeleteCori Huschle
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ReplyDeleteI just completed Act III.. So far I'm really wrapped up in the relationship between Josie and Hogan, as many of my other peers have noted. I almost feel as though the exchanges between Josie and Hogan keep the play grounded..so that despite the changes the main characters endure, the relationship between the father and daughter remains a constant. I'm also seeing many subtle references to the moon, and it's sparking a few essay topics. I also liked the wit and humor used in the first few acts, and I hope it continues in the last act. In all, I'm pretty satisfied with this. I'm happy that I choose to read it after Enchanted Night. Because the play focuses on the three characters, I feel like I was able to engage myself in their lives and get more of a connection to the characters, which is something I lost out of Enchanted Night.
ReplyDelete-Monica Loller
As I find myself nearing the end of the play..I'm wondering if anyone else found themselves reading some of the characters in an irish accent? Maybe it was just me..
ReplyDelete-Monica Loller
hahaha even though for the majority of the play I was well aware that they lived in CT I kept imagining it taking place in Ireland and them having Irish accents too Monica. I had forgotten about that until you mentioned it.
ReplyDeleteCorinne Huschle
I did find myself reading in an irish accent, and I think that emphasized some parts of Josie's personality in particular. It just fit some of the dialogue, sometimes in a funny way. I had characters labeled at the beginning and I realized as the play progressed that I had them totally wrong. It seemed that as more and more of the characters' characteristics were revealed, a new image was formed of them. I labeled Hogan as an incompetent and heartless father. Through the dialogue and actions between he and Josie, I realized he really loved his daughter and his harsh demeanor was just a quirky part of his personality. I labeled Josie as a rough, thick-skinned tomboy with no real feminine qualities. This was, like Lauren said, just a false front. As Josie let her gaurd down, more sensitive and feminine qualities were revealed, especially through her interactions with Jim.
ReplyDelete- Olivia Gray
Cori- I think that Josie really was a virgin. I think that she allowed others to percieve her as something of a slut as part of her tough front. As mentioned above, she puts up a front of being tough, undesireable, and insensitive. I believe that she lets down her guard with Jim and tells him the whole truth and he does the same.
ReplyDelete- Mary Duffy
Haha, I agree with Monica too. There were points where I was reading the play in the Irish accent. However, I did it more often during scenes when it was just Josie and her father. At the end of the play, I had to look back and recall it took place in CT.
ReplyDelete-Mindy Sharon
I enjoyed reading this play; it was my favorite out of the three reading assignments. The characters engage the reader in such a way, I felt as if I was enjoying the full moon with Josie and Jim. Even though Josie and Jim only had one night to be "together" I feel that they spent a lifetime just in their one night (if that makes any sense). Josie's relationship with her father is captivating. Their quarrels grab the reader’s attention and offer a comic escape from the seriousness of Josie and Jim's complicated relationship. I enjoyed the theme of night and true desire; it was interesting seeing how the moon brought out the characters true feelings.
ReplyDelete-Nicole Rubino
I never thought to post while I was reading, but then again this play was a short read. Throughout the duration of the play I found myself feeling sorry for Josie. The situation she had placed herself seemed miserable. Over the years she had helped her brothers esape her father and forge lives of her own, while remaining a farm hand herself.
ReplyDelete-Sal
The relationship between Jim and Josie embodies a theme that I feel is extremely prevalent in both literature and films. Despite the mutual feeling of love between Josie and Jim, circumstances in their lives prevent them from being together. To me this theme appears too often and took away from the play.
The trickery and crude humor that Josie and her father so often use, provides the reader with comical relief from an otherwise heavy and sullen story. O'Neil's use of personal voice was extremely impressive and made lightened the mood of the play. After finishing the play I feel as though I know both Josie and her father as though they are not fictional characters.
hahaha i put my name after the first paragraph! whoops
ReplyDeleteIn A Moon For the Misbegotten I was really interested in the relationships between characters. From the beginning I noticed the fighting but affection between Josie and her father. I can almost relate to the way they act toward each other. Many people in my family may act annoyed or mad for a while but every one knows we still love each other and within the day or hour we are back to talking and laughing with each other. People have said they found that Hogan and Josie could be extremely cruel towards on another, but I always saw it as almost teasing. I don't know if I just didn't read it with the harshness as others but I didn't notice any extreme cruelness.
ReplyDeleteI think that the fronts people put up in the story were also well put. Almost everyone puts up some sort of front and I liked that Hogan, Josie, and Jim each had their own. Hogan hid many of his feelings and fatherly love to Josie. Josie hid behind her promiscuous activities (but in reality her lack of). While Jim hid behind his sleeping around and constant drunken state.
I also was confused about the title like Mindy. I noticed they used the word misbegotten in the play (although that didn't help much)and the significance of the moon but was never able to put it all together. Thanks to the people that gave their input on that!
Caitlin Commins
In this book, I too, along with everyone else, was interested with the relationship between the father and the daughter. I felt that the reason their relationship was so arguementative was the fact that they both had dominant characteristics. As the father of the household, Hogan feels that he has to be the alpha-male of the household. Josie feels that she has to stand up to her father because of his constant criticism and over-analyzing of her. However, both characters share a love relationship because the two characters share their views on work. Both characters are strong and want to get the job done quickly, no matter how dirty the job might get. Also, both characters seem to share the same sense of humor in tormenting and poking fun at other characters' weaknesses.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to comment on the moon reference In The Moon For the Misbegotten and in Enchanted Night. I noticed at night moods seem to change and be more relaxed about everything. Personally, at night, I feel less self-conscious and more free. I feel the white moon has some sort of power to allow people to be themselves while the black night has a tendency to conceal the true colors of our attitudes.
By far this book is my favorite of the three. I was glad that we were able to read a play this summer. And thank you Kelsey for clearing up the title for me.
-Josh Hubert
This was my favorite of the three books. I loved the directnessof the characters as well as the writing itself. It really interested me how Hogan was always scheming. I disagree with Josh that he felt he was the alpha-male because he knew he wasn't. He had his moments, but in the end Josie was in control, and he knew that.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting how quickly Josie believed that Tyrone would go against his word, and how quickly she changed her mind that he didn't. the speed of her reactions leads me to think that she didn't truly believe he would do something like that. Her angry reaction is not out of hate, but shows she still has feeling for this man. She had just been stood up, and was rightfully upset, but her forgiveness of him proves that she never really gave up on him.
When Tyrone left in the morning, I was a bit dissapointed, but I felt he couldn't stay there. While reading this book, I wanted there to be some way for them to be together, but I knew that neither belonged in the other's world.
I'm not sure wether I believe Josie was a virgin or not. She certainly spoke as if she were not, but the fact that she had no children came up in my mind. If she had had all these nights with men it is unlikely that she would be childless. This is not to say that it is not possible for that to happen, or that children could have simply been unmensioned. As I think on it, I feel that her roughness with those around her is her way of protecting herself.
-Sydney Twarz
I found this play very interesting.. The love story which o'neil created was so real and interesting. I feel that the fact that he left in the morning made this book better, instead of having another superficial ending which everyone ends up happy.
ReplyDeleteI also found interesting the fact in which Josie created a false indentity for herself and stood by that even though this identity was not a good one. She would rather people judge her by false thoughts then know the true her, and it was interesting to see that those who truley loved her knew the real truth.
This play was my favorite out of the three, and i'm glad we got to read it.
Kate Werbner
I also enjoyed this play, just like Enchanted Night I found this to be an easy read. The characters really kept me engaged. The relationship between Josie and Phil really interested me. The two seemed to be fighting for power, poking fun at each other for everything, something I really found funny. I also enjoyed the love story in the play. It wasn't the everyday love story, Jocie and Jim were real characters, making the story much more enjoyable. Jocie was my favorite character in the play as I found her very interesting. I am still a little confused as to why exactly she put on the front that she wasn't a virgin and had been with many men. Was it to make herself appear stronger and more of an individual, not caring about what others think?
ReplyDeleteWhoops, forgot my name.
ReplyDeleteAshley Engelbert
I really enjoyed the play Enchanted Night. One of my favorite parts was the dynamic relationship between Josie and her father, Phil. They were always one step ahead of everyone else with their scheming. They were clever, and creative for being two uneducated individuals. They were able to swindle anyone and talk their way out of almost any situation. I truely enjoyed this aspect of the play.
ReplyDeleteI also think that there is something to be said about how Josie pretended to be someone that she was not. Maybe it was easier for her to step in the a personna of somebody else than to accept herself for who she was? The power she drew from who everyone thought she was gave her the confidence she did not have..
Taylor Cady
Contrary to many of you, I did not particularly enjoy this play, mostly due to the fact that I found the characters somewhat unrelatable. I was often frustrated with Josie's false-confident facade disguising her insecurity, much like Taylor said above me.
ReplyDeleteI do agree, though, that it was a more realistic love story than we are used to seeing, which was refreshing. It is sometimes more satisfying to see an unhappy ending.
-Taylor Staiger
This play was by far my favorite summer assignment we had to read. I was hooked on it from the start and finished it on a single car ride to Canada. Every little detail about the characters and their actions kept me reading on and on. I especially liked the use of sarcasm from Josie and her father.
ReplyDeleteAgain, as many said before the more realistic love story style made it even better and I am a sucker for those. The creativity that O'neill had to write this play is incredible. Again O'neill like Millhauser was able to capture the power of the night and magic in the moon to reveal the trueness in each characters soul. I think the authors have been able to capture the mysteriousness of the moon in the real world and transfer it into their stories.
-Jordan Bridge
I'm such a sucker for love stories.... but this SO was not that cliche mushy happy ending. Yet I still love it. I appreciated the relationship between Josie and her father, and enjoyed hearing about Josie's feelings toward Tyrone. She tried time and time again to convince her father, and herself, that she didn't love him, yet you could tell she did. It was a fun story; I read it in the least amount of time, yet enjoyed it as if it were a full novel.
ReplyDeleteA Moon for Misbegotten was my favorite of the assignments. I was intrigued by the relationships of the characters in the play, especially between Josie and Hogan. The unbelievably quick wits of both chacacters made the play entertaining, and I particularly enjoyed their ability to bounce smart remarks off of each other so quickly in order to outsmart even their highly educated peers. Josie and her father clearly related to each other more closely than the other members of the family. And as the play went on, I could see the connection the two had was deeper than the play originally let on.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I found the relationship between Jim and Josie to be entertaining. The two seemed to understand one another in a way that no one else could. They were able to let their guards down and be honest with themselves once alone with each other. As others have previously stated, I also believe Josie to be a virgin. I think this is another example of the complex characters O'Neill created in this piece.
I found the fast pace of the play and the non-typical personalitites of the characters made this an enjoyable read.
A Moon for Misbegotten was to me very interesting. I thought it was another easy read. Everyone is mentioning the father/daughter relationship, but in my opinion that is not the most important one. Jim and Josie's relationship seems to me much more important. She steps out of her shell when she is around him. She opens up in a way she could not with her father. Again the night plays a role because I believe that people become much more comfortable with themselves at night and therefore become more confident in the things they say and do. This is proven in this play especially because as soon as the sun comes up, their relationship returns in a way to the way it was before. What I mean is that they are suddenly not sure what to say and then he leaves, turning that amazing time into only a memory. Josie then returns back to the life with her father, the one she feels safe in. Overall it was a pretty good play and it kept me thinking the whole time I was reading.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa May
I loved this play so much. I could relate to the relationship between Josie and her father, with the way that they talked and interacted with each other. It is similar to my father and I. This made it very easy for me to get into the story, which was heartbreaking and exciting to see how the story unfolded. What happened in Jim's past was very unexpected. I was slightly dissappointed that Jim and Josie didn't have the happy fairytale ending, even after everything they went through together that night in the moonlight.
ReplyDelete-Sarah Day
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ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this play more than I thought I would have. It was a fairly easy read, and moved right along once you got into it. As with most people, I found the relationships between characters very interesting. Josie and her father had a very "tough love" kind of relationship, I thought. They are always making fun of each other and arguing, but when it comes down to it, you can tell they really care for each other. I found Josie and Jim's relationship very interesting too. They both seemed very shy about loving each other, and did not want to admit that they did, however they both knew that they desperately loved each other. I did not particularly like the ending, but I think it had more impact on the reader because in the end Josie and Jim were both able to overcome their feelings and regrets, and confess how they felt about each other.
ReplyDeleteOverall I think this book was a pretty easy read, and enjoyed it.
I normally hate plays, so I left this for last to try and put off the inevidible, however I was pleasantly suprised. Although it was still not my favorite of the materials we had to read this summer, the humor and style of the writting made it much easier for me to read than some other plays I have had to read for school even if the content is not even what I would normally read.
ReplyDeletethat last comment is from Benjamin Law. Forgot to sign it.
ReplyDeleteoh, and above Ben is Mitchell Cook, did not sign that one either
ReplyDeleteThroughout my reading of this book, I could not decide whether I thought the Hogans would be considered good people or bad. Then I remembered to stop dividing people that way and I decided that they were generally good people with wicked senses of humor and they were just trying to do their best to survive in the world even if it involved cheating and insulting people into doing what they wanted them to do. Phil Hogan actually reminded me a lot of Mundungus fletcher in harry potter. Though, I think this story brought out the best of the Hogans because in the end Phil Hogan had done his lying, cheating, scheme really only for his daughter so that she could be happily in love with Tyrone. So though he lied himself through it, he did it out of thoughtfulness for his daughter, and though Josie threatened him many a time to leave him by himself on the farm, she was really just all talk and cared for her father and found him amusing. The two of them were a right entertaining pair. They really could banter off each other and lie and insult an opponent into complete humiliation as we saw when Harder came to visit. It was actually quite entertaining the way they did things and I can say that I enjoyed the book.
ReplyDelete-Erin Sullivan
I enjoyed this read, first of all I like reading plays and Eugene O'Neill descriptions made it very easy to picture what was happening. For example what the scene looked like, what the farm looked like, and what each of the characters looked like. I also liked the relationship of the father and daughter. Even though they were brutal to each other they could calm each other down, while other people could not even come close. I also thought that it was clever on how O'Neill came up with all of these different tricks everyone played on each other, he has some imagination.
ReplyDeleteJosie is incredibly strong-willed and confident, but i believe this is likely a facade. Growing up with her father and brothers would likely make her develop a tough skin, and naturally her size allows her to avoid fearing her father. However, we catch a glimpse of a dent in her armor when her brother mentions Jim Tyrone. One hopes for a romantic union of the two, but based on the literature of the period, it is naive to expect a happy ending.
ReplyDeleteIt probably wasn't smart of me to wait till the last minute on this, but here we go.
ReplyDeleteThe book seemed it little abrupt to me, with all the quick, sharply ended tangents Josie and Jim kept getting into. But it was helpful, because their main conversations were always longer and more heartfelt when there was some kernell of importance to the dialogue. But still a lot of it seemed faked, which I guess it was since Josie was trying to keep a straight face even though she thought Jim betrayed her. The most sincere seeming interaction between Josie and her Dad seemed to be the morning after, and that was surprising to see them so interactive.
Even through all that, the significance of the moon really perplexes me, is it a image for their souls, of new beginnings, or an end to the pain?
Alex Lavernoich
The book was immensely entertaining and portrayed the pessimistic and deceptive nature that all humans can incur. Josie and her father can be representative of such deception. They are without conscience and feel no remorse towards those they dislike. It is without empathy that they scheme and plan, however near the conclusion of the story they expel some of the notions and illicit love. This is somewhat confusing. Is their pity hidden by their own deception and ability to reside behind the cloak of hatred or do they truly feel no emotional ties beyond those select few that remain nearest to them.
ReplyDelete-Derek deBoer
A Moon for the Misbegotten was a very easy read. The dynamic between Josie and her father was an interesting one. They were close and had a bond that none of her brothers were able to obtain. They fought but each knew that if the other needed anything they would be there. It was a good book with many interesting characters.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say A Moon for the Misbegotten was probably my favorite read. Most of my interest in the book came from the often comical, strange dynamic between Josie and her father. Although they bickered at times, they had a strong bond and looked out for each other. I found this most evident when Harder pays the Hogans a visit, and they work as a team to outwit him and get their way. This is also apparent when Hogan tells Josie how Jim betrayed them at the Inn, although Hogan's advice is not typical of a father, he and Josie work together. The character relationships and development through the book really kept my interest.
ReplyDeleteA Moon for the Misbegotten was definitely my favorite of the three novels. The relationships between the characters kept me interested and amused throughout the books. I enjoyed the description as well because it kept my attention while I was reading. I thought it was interesting how the only way they could get each other to talk about what they were really thinking was to give each other alcohol. They lied most of the time, unless they were drunk. Some parts would lag a little and I got slightly bored with the book, but overall I think it was well written and entertaining.
ReplyDelete-Kaitlyn Pitts
I would certainly consider this play to be my favorite of the stories. The play originally lured me in with the comical banter between Josie and her father. My interest was then furthered by the various scheming plans the father-daughter team continued to set in motion. However, by the 3rd and certainly the 4th act I was truly genuinely interested in the relationship between Josie and Jim. The hopelessness of the love shared by the two characters constantly reminded me of Romeo and Juliet, except these lovers were far more grounded and realistic. The needs echoed by Jim in his need for a meaningful companion in which would accept him for himself can be related to by almost everyone. I think the true excellence in this play lies in the character of Josie and her understsanding and acceptance of Jim for his shortcomings and flaws. The reality in the hopelessness of their love and Josie's fateful decision to let the love go are truly just speak to the reader.
ReplyDeleteLikewise, the character development and interaction take this play to the highest of levels. The character's understanding of the hopelessness of the they share only furthers the play's development. One cannot help but to be amazed at the relationship shared by Josie and Jim. The various hardships the two endure during the night only strengthen their bond, yet as a new dawn rises the hopelessness only furthers to increase.
Like Enchanted Night, the importance of the moon and the night cannot be overlooked in this story. Once again the moon proes to illuminate and brin out truths only hidden durin the day. Most notably, it can be seen that through the events of the night truths are learned and revealed about others. This is true in the case of the father, Phil, who appears to be a self centered man who cares for no one. However, the revelation of his true intention and scheme at the end of Act 4, to just have his daughter happy, speaks nobly of him as a character and only adds to the overall hopelessness of Jim and Josie's love.
- Alex Kops
This book was definitely my favorite of our summer reading books. I also loved the quick and comical banter that seemed to really hook most of us to the book. I also liked how for most of the book, the author kept each characters true intentions hidden because it kept the intrigue in the characters. He also showed incredible skill in character relationships because Josie's with both her father and Jim were very complex and compelling. I thought the play was fantastically written and was able to flow seamlessly from one genre to the next, be it comedy, romance, action, and drama, because there was certainly bits of all of these.
ReplyDelete-George Day
Of the three books we read this one was the favorite. While the others were full of imagery and intense detail, this one's charm was in the direct dialogue between the characters. Comical and yet a dark romance let me entranced with the frank conversation.
ReplyDeleteYet it was the heroine of th story that made me love the book. She was so different from many female heros read in books and plays that play the victim. But here was a unique, strong, and stubborn woman with a matronly heart. Though full of harsh, crude words and jest, she, above all other characters, fills the beaten man, jim with a sense of comfort.
I felt this play was dramatic and surprisingly fulfilling though Jim and Josie's love was lost
-Danielle Trice
I loved the character of Josie in this book. She was different than the typical heroine, the princess that needs protecting. Josie was able to protect herself. She was definitely someone to admire because she was cunning and strong.
ReplyDeleteHer relationship with her brother, her father, and even with Jim was one of love, but also motherly. It seemed that she wanted to take care of everyone. Yet at the same time, she guarded her heart carefully. When Jim called her beautiful, she didn't believe him, calling her a liar and a drunk.
The most heartbreaking part of the book is when Josie realizes that Jim does love her but he is a dead man walking and that their love can never be. Still, she is able to recover and carry on like the strong women she is.
This book was well written and my favorite of the three. Again the all mighty moon was present, and the magic that it seemed to possess. Without the moon, the story would have turned a dramatically different way.
-Taroob Cheema
This play was definitely an interesting read. It was strangely humorous and darkly romantic. I was immediately drawn by the relationship between the Hogan's and the world around them. The way they act towards one another, their bonds seemingly crude but in reality deep and confusing. The same goes for the relationship between Jim and Josie, their relationship (while it lasted) was a lot deeper than the surface intentions led on.
ReplyDeleteAll in all, i felt it was very well written and easy to enjoy.
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ReplyDeleteI felt that out of all the summer reading assignments we were given, this was the most enjoyable to read. I thought that the relationship between Josie and Hogan was one that you don't normally see between a father and a daughter. Their sarcastic remarks between each other and constant scheming against those around them were also something fresh that you don't see between the "classic" father-daughter duo.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Hogan and Josie's conversations were enjoyable to read, I found that the conversation between Jim and Josie kept my attention more. Although Josie was considered to be such a large and strong woman, when she talked to Jim she had an innocent and maternal touch to her. I liked this contrast between her emotion towards him and her physical apperance. Overall, I enjoyed this book.
Krissy Karlson
This book was the easiest and most enjoyable when it comes to reading. I felt that Josie and Hogan had a relationship that I can relate to that of my me and my fathers, on certain levels. They seem to be the only ones in their family that understand each other and can get along, which is similar to that of my dad and I. I found it interesting how Josie kept her more innocent side bottled up and was afraid to admit to Jim that she had true feelings for him when she had no problem standing up to her father, who everyone else was afraid of.
ReplyDelete-Miranda Bassage
Okay... so this is my third time trying to post this after this blog erasing all the stuff that I wrote... =/
ReplyDeleteAnyways, this book took me from the beginning right away. It's a beautiful book with moonlight background. My favorite part throughout the book probably would be the meaning of death. Is death defined by the loss of meaning of life? lost soul? or is it defined by the last breath? Jim Tyrone lost his soul when he encountered his confusion after his mother passed away. The moonlight shining upon his face and the lifeless color on his face undeniably signifies his death. But is he already dead? or is it a foreshadow? =]
Thus far I have deduced that the moonlight within this play, as well as in Enchanted Night, causes for the abandonment of normalcy. It becomes evident that in the presence of the moon dreams become reality and what once seemed impossible becomes plausible. Josie being with Jim, without that additive of intimate pleasures can be considered one of these mythic occurrences. Initially it seems that Jim will be unable to contain himself upon the threshold of a pleasure he has longed for. Such a desire is deep within his primitive being yet his conscious mind feels the guilt of the action even though it has not occurred. He subsequently went against such primitive and human sin to endure a night unlike any other. This interaction between Josie and Jim is beyond the bounds of normalcy because it wouldn’t have occurred in any other setting. The moon bridged a connection between these two characters allowing them to interact in a new way, playing its part as the cupid of the heavens.
ReplyDeleteAs stated above a connection can be made between this play and Enchanted Night. Primarily such a connection exists because of the moon and its ability to transform ones being from extremely ordinary to the extraordinary. This can be seen as the young woman finds love and utopia within the surrounding spruces which line her backyard. Her subsequent actions are dreamlike in nature but still they remain possible. Such a fantasy is, by normal standards overlooked by the simple basic of its illogical nature. Preconceived knowledge suggests its fault, thus resulting in doubt. In essence, the moon permitted it to happen. It was used almost an excuse. The intoxication of the moon pervaded normal reasoning and logic making such a dream ascertainable.
-Derek deBoer
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ReplyDeleteI agree with you, this story definitely tops romeo and juliet. Manly because the characters are so much more real, its a drama that not only could happen but undoubtedly has, and that fact makes it all the more moving. I like the books great sense of humor, and the conversations that Joise and her father shared made reading nothing but dialog quite enjoyable and funny, i wish that fate had not sent Josie and Jim apart forever, but then again that would have made it not as moving. I relate this book to reality in that though it was written years ago it reads as if it came out yesterday. Unfortunately it matches the times in that hollywood seems to have stopped making as many classic happy endings, and while that seems to tug on your soul a little more, i still would like to see a movie where all the good guys don't die or get maimed or forced apart forever. I thought that this book and enchanted night went together perfectly and i hope that we can see it performed
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this play. I think out of the three books, it was without a doubt my favorite. Like many of you, I become a fan of the relationship between Josie and her father. With their sarcastic comments and heckling of each other and other characters, it made the play both quite enjoyable and comical. I personally liked how the author concealed the characters complete personalities. I would have never have guessed any of the characters having a kind and compasionate side after reading the first few pages. This lead the play to be both suprising and fascinating. In the long run it was a good mix of drama, romance, and comedy.
ReplyDelete-Kyle Sprague
I was happy to see that included in the summer reading was a play! I find reading plays to be interesting because of all the dialogue between characters. I somehow knew that Josie would turn out to be caring and sensitive at heart. Most characters that tend to be rough and edgy usually have that soft spot that is revealed in the end. This play had me from the start and I did not put it down for a second until it was finished. The book left me feeling satisfied, as I was happy the ending wasn't really left on a cliff hanger. I enjoy a happy ending now and again. Like kyle said, I also feel this play had just the right mixture of romance, comedy, and drama.
ReplyDelete-Lauren Putira
I'm not really sure whether or not this play could compare to Romeo and Juliet.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it's been a while since I read R&J, from my vague memory, the play takes place over a period of 3-4 days. It depicts the ultimate spontaneity of teenagers and their willingness to throw away everything for one thing. Thus, the exact reasons why some may call the play the most beautiful romantic play written of all times, makes it the most naive play ever written as well. There is almost no reasoning or logic behind Juliet's death besides the fact that Romeo is gone and she cannot live without him. Of course she can. Sure, it might be miserable, but critically thinking, love cannot kill you. The actions that in gain or lost of love and in the confusion of it all- actions affected by emotion- can kill you. I'm not certainly downplaying the importance of it all, but realistically speaking, at least from her parent's point of view, she made a wrong decision by commiting a suicide.
So in comparision, what about A Moon for the Misbegotten? It deals with confusion of identity. Tyrone finds who he is by talking with Josie at night. He is lost, unable to accept his past action and his emotions, and therefore (of course in combination of other factors) is dead. Although everything does take place in context of Josie and Tyrone's love, it doesn't necessary put emphasis on it. The Act 3 that contains the majority of the discussion refers to Tyrone's actions after his mothers passing virtually from the beginning to the end. Josie helps him to get it out of his heart and relieve the stress that's built up over the years.
Romeo and Juliet in comparison to A Moon for the Misbegotten has not much in common in their core ideas that they deal with. It's like almost comparing apples to oranges. One refers to naivity and unconditionality of love and other refers to essence of life. Not really that close. Some people like oranges better than apples because of the way it tastes. Others may feel differently. I just think they're both good and I like them both for what they are. =]