Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neill

Hairy Ape

Eugene O’Neill is one of the greatest dramatist of America. As a dramatist, he earned wide acclaim. His contribution to the American drama is notable, remarkable and memorable. The bulk of his output is fairly large. Being a tireless experimented with a variety of dramatic forms and modes. In order to communicate inner reality he used expressionistic techniques in his plays. “The Hairy Ape” Is one of them. Due to the many merits of these play O’Neill enjoyed wide popularity. This play is a piece of social satire and propaganda. It deals with man’s quest for identity. It is a study in disintegration of the modern civilization.

Ø Belongingness :

Belongingness is one the major themes of “The Hairy Ape”. It deals with alienation and search for identity. In the beginning of the play. We find that yank is quite confident and proud of his superior strength. His fellow stokers respect his superior physical capacity and obey him. Yank is satisfied with his position. He feels that he belongs but his fellow stokers don’t belongs. But Yank’s  sense of belongingness is soon shattered as he is confronted with Mildred Douglas. Douglas looks at him as if he were an hairy Ape. He calls him a filthy beast. Now yank becomes aware of the fact that he does not belong. Like yank many others suffer from the same problem in the fifth avenue.

Ø Theme of protest

In ‘The Hairy Ape’ O’Neil examines the psychological implications of the machine age. Here Yank is trying to know his position. In pursuit of the answer to this problem he receives blows and insults. The real danger to modern civilization is the stupidity and timidity of the ruling class. Therein lies the real drama of this play. Yank is more than an individual. He is the symbol of deep protest against the whole structure of modern civilization. This play is not a protest against low wages and unemployment. It is a condemnation of the whole structure of machine civilization. This civilization flourishes when it destroy those who make it possible. It is this that gives the play universality.

Ø Search For Identity

In this play O’Neill makes it clear that search for identity is the greatest problem of the modern civilization. Yank moves from here to there to find some answer to this problem. But he does not get any solution. When he reviews his situation in this world, he finds that in this machine civilization the existence of mankind in in danger. Wags, food, home, family etc. do not act as suitable remedy. As the machine age created wealth, it destroyed the joy of living. Thus, O’Neill his presented the paradox of modern civilization with great insight into its fundamental tragedy.

Ø Yank’s Tragedy

Yank is rejected by society. He does not belong to the world of man. But he can’t exist in isolation with him and ultimately it takes him to the Zoo. There he stands face to face with a gorilla in its cage. He talks to it as to a brother. He shakes hands with it and sets it free. But alas! The gorilla crushed him to death. It does not think that Yank belongs. His search for identity ends with his death. It does not think that Yank belongs. His search for identity ends with his death.

Ø Conclusion

Thus, Neill ‘The Hairy ape’ deals with the theme of belongingness. Yank’s quest for identity is very tragic. In fact, the tragedy of Yank is the tragedy of millions in the modern age.