Comment on the crisis of identity and isolation in the play “The Hairy Ape.”

Answer

Comment on the crisis of identity and isolation in the play “The Hairy Ape.” [NU: 2015]

Eugene O’Neill’s (1888-1953) “The Hairy Ape” (1922) is a modern tragedy. The hero is Yank. He works in the stokehole of a ship. At first, he feels proud of his strength. But later, he is insulted, rejected, and broken. He loses his identity. He becomes fully isolated from society. In the end, he dies in the gorilla’s cage. The play shows an identity crisis and isolation.

Yank’s False Identity in the Stokehole: At the beginning, in the firemen’s forecastle, Yank feels proud. He believes he belongs. He says with pride, 

“I’m part of de engines!” 

He thinks his strength makes him the center of the world. Paddy talks of old sailing days. Long speaks of politics. But Yank laughs at them. He thinks his muscles are enough. Yet this pride is false. His real identity is not secure. This is the root of his crisis.

Mildred’s Insult Creates Identity Crisis: In Scene Three, Mildred Douglas enters the stokehole. She is a rich girl in white clothes. When she sees Yank, she cries, 

“Oh, the filthy beast!” 

Then she faints. This insult destroys Yank. He feels less than human. Before, he thought he was a hero. Now, he feels like an ape. His isolation begins here. Paddy sings of freedom. Long speaks of class. But Yank only feels shame. Mildred’s one word starts his crisis of identity and rejection.

Isolation in Fifth Avenue and Prison: In Scene Five, Yank goes to Fifth Avenue. The rich people walk out of the church. Long tells him to fight through politics. But Yank only wants revenge. He shouts at the rich. He pushes them. He even hits a gentleman. The police arrest him. In prison on Blackwell’s Island, Yank feels like an animal. He tells his story to other prisoners. They laugh at him. He tries to bend the bars. He fails. Guards beat him. He feels trapped.