Evaluate “The Hairy Ape” as a modern tragedy.

Answer

Evaluate “The Hairy Ape” as a modern tragedy. [NU: 2017, 22] ★★★

Eugene O’Neill’s (1888-1953) “The Hairy Ape” (1922) is a modern tragedy. It has no kings, no queens, no palaces. The hero is a stoker named Yank. His stage is the forecastle, the stokehole, Fifth Avenue, prison, the I.W.W. office, and finally the Zoo. He meets Paddy, Long, Mildred, the police, and the gorilla. His story shows the fall of a modern tragic hero.

Ordinary Hero, Not a King: In old tragedies, heroes are kings like Hamlet or Oedipus. But in The Hairy Ape, the hero is a worker. Yank works in the firemen’s forecastle. He is a stoker. He throws coal in the furnace. His body is strong. His pride is high. He says, 

“I’m part of de engines!”

This line shows his pride as an ordinary worker. His tragic journey begins from here.

Psychological Conflict and Identity Crisis: Modern tragedy shows inner struggle. Yank is full of pride in the stokehole. But Mildred Douglas, a rich girl, comes in a white dress. She sees him and cries, 

“Oh, the filthy beast!”

Then she faints. This insult destroys Yank’s mind. Paddy sings of old sailing days. Long speaks of class. But Yank hears only one word: “beast.” He feels he is not human. He begins to think of himself as an ape. His identity breaks. This is a modern psychological tragedy.

Social Reality and Class Conflict: Modern tragedy also shows society. In Scene Five, Yank goes to Fifth Avenue in New York. The place is clean and rich. Churchgoers walk in fine clothes. Yank feels angry. He wants revenge. Long says politics is the way. But Yank wants only to fight. He shouts at rich people. He even hits a gentleman. Soon, the police come. He is arrested. Here, class conflict becomes clear. The rich ignore him. The poor cannot save him. Yank is lost between classes. His tragedy grows from social injustice.

Rejection and Isolation Everywhere: