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.” 

In “The Hairy Ape” (1922) by Eugene O’Neill (1888 – 1953), the main character, Yank, goes through a deep crisis of identity and isolation. He feels lost and doesn’t know where he belongs in the world. This crisis leads him to feel very alone and separated from everyone around him. In this play, we see how Yank struggles to find his place. He understands who he really is, but he faces many difficulties that push him further into loneliness.

Yank’s Strong Identity in the Beginning: At the start of the play, Yank feels very powerful and essential. He believes that he is the one who makes the ship move and that he is strong like a machine. He says,

I’m de end! I’m de start! I start somep’n and de woild moves!

Yank thinks he is in control, and his place in the world is clear. However, this strong identity starts to break down when he meets Mildred. She is the daughter of Mr. Douglas, who owns Nazareth Steel. She makes him feel small and unimportant.

Mildred’s Impact on Yank: When Mildred, a rich woman, sees Yank working on the ship, she is shocked and calls him a “filthy beast.” This moment deeply hurts Yank because it makes him feel like he is not a man but something less. This is where his crisis begins. He starts to doubt his own strength and importance. He feels like he doesn’t belong anywhere. 

Yank’s Search for Belonging: After this incident, Yank tries to find a place where he belongs. He goes to Fifth Avenue. He hopes to fit in with the rich people, but they ignore him. He tries to talk to them but feels even more out of place. He is also ignored by IWW, the policeman and the Gorilla. So, he says at the end, 

Christ, where do I get off at? Where do I fit in?

Yank’s Isolation in Prison: Yank’s crisis worsens when he ends up in prison in Blackwells Island. Here, he feels completely isolated. He compares himself to a caged animal. Yank feels trapped and more alone than ever. He realizes that he is not part of society but is treated like something wild and dangerous. This deepens his feeling of being lost and alone.

Rejection by the IWW: Yank’s last hope to find a place where he belongs is destroyed when he tries to join the International Workers of the World (IWW). He thinks they will accept him, but they reject him too. The secretary of IWW rejects him saying,

You’re a brainless ape.

This rejection makes Yank feel like he doesn’t fit in anywhere, not even among people who are supposed to fight for workers like him. He feels completely abandoned.

The Tragic End: In the final scene, Yank meets a gorilla at the zoo. He feels that they are alike—both are strong but trapped and misunderstood. But when he tries to befriend the Gorilla, it attacks him. Yank says,

Even him didn’t tink I belonged,

This led to his death. This tragic end shows that Yank’s crisis of identity and isolation is complete. He never finds a place where he belongs and dies feeling alone and lost.

The Hairy Ape shows us the painful journey of a man who cannot find his place in the world. Yank’s crisis of identity and isolation makes him feel like he doesn’t belong anywhere. This loneliness leads to his tragic end. The play highlights the struggles of finding one’s identity in a world that doesn’t seem to accept you.