The Hairy Ape

Anthropological study of modern man

Anthropology?

• search for the origins of life • making reference to atavistic remnants of

primitive man appearing in modern society• Scientifically description of specific human

culture and societies

Individually and generally

Characters of the play

• Yank• Mildred Douglas• Paddy

yank

• Struggle of primitive man in industrial society• The expression of “filthy beast” indicates

origin of man.• His utter alienation from society• He feels as if he belongs ; his life suits him.

Paddy

• “whiskey johnny” spouting philosophy and stories of past.

• O'Neill describes him “extremely monkey”• Spokesman of revolution brought by machines• Yank s reference to him…”dead”, “old”• Describes bourgeois by describing Mildred s

look

Mildred Douglas

• Victimized by the class of yank.• All culture and education cannot escape her

primitive cultural identity.• Search of identity• Unable to accept the social identity

Presenting society

• Proletariats• bourgeois

Class conflict

• The rich class might look at this life of primitive man as comedy because a beastly man dies.

RELATED THEME

RACIAL DEGENRATION

• “THE PLAY IS ALSO VERY MUCH PROTEST AGAINST THE PRESENT”

• “I WILL ARGUE , IS TO ATTACK THE WIDELY HELD BELIEF,AFFIRMED BY SCIENTIST IN THE RACIAL DEGENRATION OF AFRICAN AMARICAN RACE”

attempt to come into harmony with his world

Man belongs to its end

Works consulted• Contour in the time by TRAVIS BOGARD Racial Degeneration by john nickel (article)The Hairy Ape Eugene O'Neill