Write a Short Note About Mildred Douglas

Answer

Write a short note about Mildred Douglas.

Mildred Douglas is a central character in Eugene O’Neill’s (1888 – 1953) play “The Hairy Ape” (1922). She is the young and beautiful daughter of a wealthy steel magnate. Though she appears gentle and refined, her actions and attitudes reveal a deeper complexity.

Rich But Unaware: Mildred is the daughter of the owner of Nazareth Steel, Mr. Douglas. In college, Mildred studied sociology and is on a crusade to help the poor. Mildred has previously worked with disadvantaged people in New York’s Lower East Side. She never had to work hard for anything. She admits that she is a,

Waste product in the Bessemer process,

This shows that she feels useless compared to the hard work that built her family’s wealth. Her wealth makes her unaware of the struggles of poor people. For example, she wears a white dress to visit the stokehole. This is a dirty and hot place on the ship.

A False Sense of Helpfulness: Despite her privileged background, Mildred tries to help the poor by studying sociology and doing social work. However, this attempt is superficial. Her aunt mocks her, saying, 

The poor that you made so much poorer in their own eyes,

This shows that Mildred’s efforts may do more harm than good. Her visit to the stokehole is driven more by curiosity than genuine concern. When she faces the harsh reality, she faints, calling Yank a “filthy beast.”

Symbol of Class Division: Mildred represents the rich people who are very different from the workers like Yank. She calls Yank a “hairy ape,” which shows the big gap between the rich and the poor. She doesn’t understand Yank, and he can’t relate to her. This meeting makes Yank question where he belongs in the world.

Mildred Douglas is a character who shows the difference between the rich and the poor. Even though she tries to help, her actions only make the gap between her world and Yank’s world bigger.