The Hairy Ape
$11. The subject of the play revolves around a hairy man called Yank who in his search for identity realizes that he belongs no where. The other most important aspect of the play is depiction of irrational thoughts that are exhibited by human beings who are in distress as their ability to make rational decisions is wiped away and they end up thinking that they are superior to everything the see. Yank at one point in his moments of desperation touches the engine of the ship and ascertains that his physical strength is much more than that of the ship. This is coupled with the desire to prove his worth to the rich daughter who regards him as a “filthy beast.” Therefore, lost identity and lack of personal confidence drives the individual to carry out weird activities as he thinks the world is against him and only man’s ancestors; the apes seem to like him (O’Neill, 1922).
$12. The play’s author was working towards illustrating the degree and amount of industrial oppression that was being directed to the working class. According to this theme, the capitalist system is blamed for carrying out intense persecutions to the ordinary working man while the socialist system failed to elevate problems that were present in the country. The other thematic explanation of the play is the toxic and dehumanizing industrial environment which was characteristic of the rich and majority races such that the other categories of people were given less priority, as well as, opportunities to succeed (O’Neill, 1922).
$13. The setting of the play shifts constantly as the scene of action changes from the shore to the zoo and the city of New York. The ship is the workstation for Yank where he strives to prove his worth by making all crew comfortable. Nothing much happens here apart from constant arguments and drinking which is a past time activity for the working groups. The poor relations and frustrations exhibited by the living condition explain why Mildred fainted upon sighting Yank. Another aspect of the ship setting that is conspicuous is the contempt portrayed by Mildred and her aunt towards the ship crew who are working extra hard to ensure that all is well in the ship. The scene that is portrayed by Long and Yank in the New York street is a way of making the reader understand the pain, as well as, humiliation the working class felt at the expense of upper class. Subsequent settings are presented with rejection and alteration of past beliefs regarding human life such fellow workers turning one of their own out and the other episode where an ape tears at the main actor hence ending his mystery (O’Neill, 1922).
$14. Yank is a self proclaimed achiever who believes that his physical strength cannot be equated to any other including that of machines. However, his moment of glory is shortened as the realization of his power in relation to class is made clear to him by Mildred. The intensity of the comment is so harsh that the humiliation makes his loose his capacity to think rationally and subsequent decisions lack probable affinity to attaining positive results. The character portrayed by Yank is determined by society and state of relationship present such that when he realizes that the upper class do not recognize his efforts, he turns violent until he gets to worker’s organization. After a short stint his morale is boosted but when he is turned out, he looses his sense due to rejection by peers (O’Neill, 1922).
Reference
O’Neill, Eugene, the hairy ape. 1922Pp. 1600-1631
Is this your assignment or some part of it?
We can do it for you! Click to Order!
