Project Gutenberg
2003-05-01
Public domain in the USA.
750
O'Neill, Eugene
1888
1953
O'Neill, Eugene Gladstone
O'Neill, Eugene G. (Eugene Gladstone)
The Hairy Ape
Produced by Charles Franks, Robert Rowe and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team. HTML version by Al Haines.
"The Hairy Ape" by Eugene O'Neill is a play written in the early 20th century that delves into themes of identity, class struggle, and the search for belonging. Centered around the character Robert Smith, known as "Yank," the narrative explores the life of coal stokers aboard a transatlantic liner, juxtaposed against the opulence of the upper class, which is epitomized by the character Mildred Douglas. As Yank grapples with his identity and feeling of alienation, the play offers a critical examination of the human condition and societal divisions. The opening of the play introduces us to the stokehole of the ship, where Yank and his fellow workers live and work in squalor and camaraderie. The scene is filled with chaotic energy, underscoring the oppressive environment and the men’s need to drown their despair in alcohol and bravado. Yank emerges as a powerful figure among the stokers, consumed by pride in his physical strength as he sees himself as essential to the ship’s operation. The scene unveils the stark contrast between Yank’s raw, animalistic vigor and the disdainful barrier represented by Mildred, who later observes the firemen and recoils in horror at Yank’s brute appearance. This encounter sets in motion Yank's journey of existential questioning as he strives to assert his place in a world that seems to reject him. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 87.9 (6th grade). Easy to read.
en
Social classes -- Drama
New York (N.Y.) -- Drama
Unskilled labor -- Drama
PS
Text
One Act Plays
Category: Plays/Films/Dramas
Category: American Literature
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