Eugene O'Neill was born on October 16, 1888, in New York City, into a dysfunctional family. O'Neill's mother, Mary, became addicted to morphine as a result of pain suffered during Eugene's birth. O'Neill's father, James, was a famous actor and was so obsessed with his poor background that he only acted in plays that were surefire financial successes, such as The Count of Monte Cristo. As a result, critics widely proclaimed the waste of James's talent.

O'Neill lived his early life on the road; his family accompanied James on acting tours. In 1902, when he was fourteen, O'Neill learned of his mother's addiction when she ran out of morphine and tried to drown herself. As a result, the boy renounced his mother's Catholic faith. O'Neill's education took place in several different boarding schools while he was on the road with his father, and later the future playwright flunked out...