The Hairy Ape : Summary

Summary

 Summary

Scene 1 – Conflict of Strength, Politics, and Memory

The first scene begins in the firemen’s forecastle of the ship. The ship has already left New York and is now on its way across the Atlantic Ocean. This is the resting place for the stokers who shovel coal. The scene opens after they have finished work and entered the room. The space is full of noise. All the workers are tired, yet they laugh and shout while drinking. Some sing, some quarrel, some curse. Bottles pass from hand to hand. Everyone is half drunk. The room looks like an animal’s den. Instead of humans, they seem like monkeys or wild beasts. Their clothes are filthy. Some are bare-chested, others wear worn-out shirts. Their bodies are thick, chests hairy, arms muscular. Their eyes carry hatred, their faces look rough. They appear half-human, half-beast. O’Neill here presents the harsh lives of the working class and their animal-like existence.

Among this crowd is Yank. Yank is the leader of all. He is the strongest. Broad chest, powerful arms. There is no fear in him. His voice is loud. The others look at him. No one dares to fight with him. Everyone considers Yank their real leader. He controls the drunken workers. When fights break out, Yank shouts. His voice is full of command. All fall silent. Yank declares, “Beer is for women. We need strong liquor.” This shows his pride. He thinks he is different. The ship runs because of his strength.

Also present is Long. Long is an English worker. He always speaks about socialism and politics. He says the rich exploit the workers. The workers must unite and fight. But the drunken men do not listen. They laugh at him. Yank mocks Long. He thinks Long is weak. There is also Paddy, an old Irish sailor. He recalls the old days of sailing ships. Open skies, wind, and sea. In his eyes, those times had freedom and beauty. But now everything is machines, smoke, coal, and darkness. He despises the present. Yank laughs at Paddy’s words. He says, “Nonsense! The ship runs on my strength. I feed the coal. I make this world move.” Yank believes he is the true man. His body, his strength, his labor, these sustain civilization. His arrogance is clear here.

At the end of the scene, the workers sing again. The room fills with drunken laughter and noise. Paddy sits silently. Long tries to speak, but Yank’s voice drowns him. It is as if Yank proclaims himself the hero of the modern world. Nothing can move without his power. This scene sets the foundation of the entire play. Three forces appear here: Yank’s strength and pride, Long’s political thoughts, and Paddy’s nostalgia. These three represent three different worlds. The rest remain as an animal-like crowd. Together, they mark the beginning of the play’s exploration of society, class, and true human identity.

Scene 2 – Aristocratic Curiosity and Class Division

The second scene begins on the upper deck of the ship. Morning sunlight fills the deck. Sitting there is Mildred Douglas, the daughter of a wealthy steel magnate. Beside her is her aunt. They are both sunbathing and chatting. Mildred appears calm and innocent. She wears white clothes, befitting a girl from an aristocratic family. Her aunt is older, filled with pride and arrogance of wealth. Their conversation reveals the lifestyle of the rich class. The discussion starts with Mildred’s wish: she wants to go among the poor. She feels that one must understand their suffering. She believes that if she learns about the lives of the poor, she can do something good for society. But her aunt is completely dissatisfied. She thinks Mildred’s place is only within the upper class. To her, mingling with the poor means tarnishing the family’s honor. She fears society will mock them for this.

Mildred, however, remains firm in her thought. She declares that she wants to see the life of the poor with her own eyes. She wishes to sit with the workers who toil in her father’s factory and know their struggles. Her aunt repeatedly tries to dissuade her. She reminds Mildred that the true duty of a girl born into a rich family is to maintain comfort and prestige. Mixing with the poor will teach her nothing, but only bring her suffering. Mildred frowns at her aunt’s words and sits quietly. Yet inside her decision is firm. One way or another, she will go down into the lower deck, into the stokehole, where the laborers shovel coal. She wants to see their lives for herself. At this point, two officers arrive on the deck. They are in formal uniforms. They announce that it is time for Mildred to go down. They will escort her to the engine room. Mildred stands up.

Her aunt makes one last attempt to stop her. She warns that below there is smoke, coal, and hot darkness. Going there will harm her health. It will only invite humiliation. Mildred ignores everything. She remains determined in her decision. She says she will go down. She will enter the mechanical world and meet the workers. The officers take her below. Her aunt looks on, disturbed and displeased. Her face shows discomfort and disbelief. She simply cannot understand why a girl from a rich family would wish such a thing.

At the end of the scene, the contrast between rich and poor is clear. The aunt symbolizes the arrogance and intolerance of the upper class. Mildred symbolizes innocent sympathy and curiosity. Yet her sympathy lacks real experience. This scene lays the foundation for the coming conflict. Mildred will descend into the engine room. There she will encounter Yank. That meeting will become the greatest wound of Yank’s life. From this point, the tragedy begins.

Scene 3 – The Wound of Humiliation and the Crisis of Identity

The third scene takes place in the stokehole or engine room. Here, the firemen are shoveling coal. The room is filled with smoke and heat. Though exhausted, they work with pride. To them, this labor is a symbol of strength and life. Yank is the most powerful among them. He believes that the world itself runs because of this work. His body is full of strength, and his voice is commanding. He hurls coal with great force. The others watch him and feel inspired. To them, Yank is the true leader. In his mind, pride grows. He believes that his body, his hands, and his labor are what drive the ship forward. With his own strength, he fuels the engine. His voice carries pride, his work shows vigor. At that moment, the engineer’s voice shouts down from above, urging the men to work faster. Yank flares up in anger. He roars back. He curses the unseen engineer, insisting that work is not done by the engineer’s orders. He alone is the real power. The engineer merely gives commands while they do all the work.

The other workers continue their tasks, trusting in Yank’s strength and words. They believe they are, together, the true drivers of the ship. Suddenly, Mildred Douglas enters the room, accompanied by officers. The wealthy young woman has descended into this smoky, suffocating darkness. The laborers stop working and stare. At first, Yank does not notice her. He continues shouting at the engineer. But when he realizes the others have stopped working, he turns in confusion. Then his eyes fall upon Mildred.

Mildred is struck dumb. Her face turns pale with fear. The sight of Yank’s powerful body, his coal-stained face, and sweat-drenched frame terrifies her. In her eyes, Yank is not human at all. He seems like a beast. His roar, his rough appearance, shatter her composure. Overcome, she blurts out that Yank is a filthy animal. Her voice trembles with fear and disgust. These words pierce Yank’s very soul. Immediately after speaking, Mildred faints. The officers rush to hold her and carry her out. The scene ends with Yank standing in shock. His face shows confusion and disbelief. He cannot understand why he was called a beast, why he was not seen as a man. From this moment begins his crisis of identity.

Scene 4 – From Humiliation to the Madness of Revenge

The fourth scene again takes place in the firemen’s forecastle. As before, there are bunks, benches, and the presence of alcohol. But this time, the room is silent of laughter and song. The atmosphere is heavy, serious. For on Yank’s face sits a black storm of anger. He sits quietly, but inside him a fire rages. Again and again, Mildred’s words echo in his mind. The wealthy girl had called him a filthy beast. That single moment had poisoned his heart.

The other workers look at him in surprise. Never before had they seen Yank so quiet, so lost in thought. Someone asks what has happened. Another guesses that maybe Yank has fallen in love. They laugh and suggest perhaps he loves the rich girl, and that is why he is so furious. But Yank roars in protest. He declares there is no love in him, only hate.

Yank’s face turns red. His jaw clenches, and his body trembles with rage. He recalls Mildred’s insult and wonders how she dared to call him a beast. Shouting, he insists he is no animal. He is the real force. He throws coal, he runs the engine, he keeps the world moving. The rich girl does nothing, yet she dared to insult him. From Yank’s voice burns the fire of revenge. He vows to find her, to drag her down to the ground, and to show her what true power is. Suddenly, he rushes toward the door. His eyes blaze, his body seems possessed by madness. It appears he will charge at Mildred that very moment.

But his shipmates are terrified. Together, they seize him. They grab his arms, pin him down to the floor. Yank fights back, but many men hold him at once. The room fills with noise and chaos. Yank screams in fury. He demands revenge. He wants to destroy Mildred. Finally, he collapses onto the ground, gasping for breath. His body shakes, his eyes still burn with wrath. His comrades stand frozen, stunned. Never had they seen him in such a terrifying state. This scene reveals Yank’s mental transformation. Once he had taken pride in his strength. Now his self-respect is shattered. A single word has unbalanced him. The wealthy society has reduced him to the level of an animal. And from this moment begins the new crisis of his life.

Scene 5 – From Display of Strength to the Fall into Captivity

The fifth scene is set in New York City, three weeks later. The ship has returned from its voyage. Now, Yank and Long are walking along Fifth Avenue. The street is polished, everything clean. It is the heart of high society, neat, glittering, luxurious. Yank stands astonished in this place. To him, it feels like the world of the rich, where the poor have no place. Long, observing the surroundings, insists that they must fight the wealthy through intellect. He speaks of socialist ideas, explaining that the struggle cannot be won with brute strength alone but through political means. But Yank listens to nothing. His mind is still consumed by revenge. Mildred’s words echo in his head. She had called him an animal. That insult has driven him mad. Now he considers every member of the upper class his enemy. To his eyes, the crowd of Fifth Avenue is filled with people just like Mildred.

Soon, churchgoers, gentlemen and ladies, emerge onto the street. They walk peacefully, faces serene, clothes elegant. But to Yank, they are symbols of insult. He suddenly steps in front of them, blocking their way rudely. With a rough voice, he curses the rich. The people recoil in fear. Panic spreads among them. Long, frightened, steps back. He thinks Yank’s actions are foolish, that the police will surely come. Quickly, he slips away into the crowd, leaving Yank alone. Yank remains, his eyes burning red with rage. He thinks every person on the street is his enemy. He declares that he must show his strength.

At that moment, a well-dressed gentleman approaches. Fresh from church, he walks with dignity. Without a word, Yank punches him in the face. The man collapses to the ground. Chaos erupts around them. The crowd screams, and someone rushes to fetch the police. Within moments, officers arrive and surround Yank. He fights, but they outnumber him. He is overpowered and handcuffed. Standing in the street, Yank roars in anger, his mind consumed by vengeance and despair. But his body can do nothing more. The police drag him away. This scene shows that Yank’s inner crisis is deepening. His strength is useless against the rich society. Instead of bringing him honor, it only creates chaos. In the end, he falls captive to the law.

Scene 6 – Explosion of Strength and Despair Inside the Jail

The sixth scene takes place in a prison, specifically on Blackwell’s Island, the night after the Fifth Avenue incident. Yank is now serving a thirty-day sentence. He sits inside the cell, surrounded by iron bars, walls, and darkness. To his eyes, this prison is nothing more than a zoo. Here, humans are caged like beasts. Every prisoner seems like an animal trapped in a cage. Yank begins telling his story. He explains to the fellow inmates how he ended up here. He recounts his fight on Fifth Avenue, how he had punched a gentleman, and how the police arrested him. The prisoners listen, some laughing, some surprised. To them, Yank seems like a strange man.

Among them, one inmate tells him something new. He speaks of an organization called the Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.). This group, he says, fights for workers’ rights against the rich. He advises Yank to think about joining. Yank falls silent for a moment. But soon, Mildred’s face rises again in his mind, the rich girl who had called him a beast, and her father’s enormous steel empire. These thoughts enrage him once more. His body shakes, his eyes blaze red.

He stands and grabs the iron bars of his cell, attempting to bend them with his tremendous strength. The metal rattles under his force. The other prisoners watch in astonishment. To them, Yank has truly become like a wild beast. But suddenly, the guards rush in. Alarmed yet determined, they strike him with clubs and force him down. Yank falls, bruised and gasping for breath. In the end, he lies on the floor, his strength defeated. He realizes that though he may have the power, he cannot break free. The prison’s walls and the machinery of society are stronger. This scene highlights Yank’s deepening despair. He now sees himself not as a man, but as a beast, trapped and powerless in the hands of the upper class and the law.

Suddenly, Yank grabs the iron bars of the cell. With his immense strength, he tries to bend them. The metal shakes under the pressure. The prisoners stare in astonishment. Yank seems to have truly turned into a beast. But at that moment, the guards arrive. Alarmed at the sight, they quickly rush in with clubs and guns. They strike Yank and knock him to the ground, suppressing his power. At last, Yank lies there gasping, his body racked with pain. He realizes the prison walls cannot be broken. Though his strength is great, the machinery of society and the hands of the law will always keep him captive. This scene shows how Yank’s despair grows deeper. He has begun to see himself as nothing more than an animal. Against the rich society and the law, he has become powerless. Though the fire of revenge still burns within him, he finds no path to freedom.

Scene 7 – The Exiled, Lonely Man

The seventh scene takes place a month later. Yank has now been released from jail. His eyes still burn with anger, his mind still seethes with vengeance. This time, he seeks a new path. He goes to the office of the Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.). The office is small, its walls covered with slogans. A few workers sit inside. They are pleased to see Yank, for it is rare for a ship’s fireman to join their group. Yank stands proudly, declaring that he has come to join them. He wants to fight against the rich. The members welcome him at first, happy to have him.

But soon Yank’s inner fire bursts out. He proclaims that the Steel Trust must be destroyed. He says the entire steel industry should be blown up. In his eyes, the steel empire of Mildred’s father, (Nazareth Steel) is the true enemy. The members are shocked. To them, Yank is going too far. Such rage suggests he may not be a genuine member. They begin to suspect he might be a government spy, perhaps sent to trap them. Whispers spread through the room. Members exchange wary glances. Finally, they decide Yank must be expelled. They shove him out of the office.

Yank falls into the dust of the street. Once again, emptiness floods his heart. He realizes he has no place even among the working class. Once again, he is utterly alone. He stands in the crowd, despair in his eyes. At that moment, a policeman approaches. Yank assumes he will be arrested again. He even thinks perhaps prison, at least, could give him a place. But the policeman does nothing. He simply tells him to move along, as though Yank is meaningless. Not even a man, just another face in the crowd.

Yank stands stunned. The rich society never accepted him. The workers’ organization rejected him. Now even the law refuses to notice him. He understands he belongs nowhere. He is neither of the wealthy class, nor the working class, nor a recognized man in the eyes of the law. The scene ends with Yank more broken than ever. Rage still burns inside him, but now he no longer knows whom to call his enemy, nor where to go. Society has completely cast him out.

Scene 8 – Final Fall in the Gorilla’s Cage

The eighth scene takes place in the zoo, on the evening after the previous day. Yank, wandering alone, has come here. In his eyes, both society and mankind have drifted far away. He feels that there is no longer any place for him in the world. He stands in front of the gorilla’s cage. Inside sits a large, powerful, hairy gorilla. Yank stares at it, thinking the gorilla and he are the same. Both are strong. Both are trapped, one in an iron cage, the other in the cage of society.

Yank reflects deeply. He now sees himself as outside human society. He realizes the wealthy class never accepted him. The workers’ organization rejected him. Even the police paid him no attention. He is nothing but an animal. So the gorilla, he believes, is his true companion. He approaches the gorilla with a strange tenderness in his eyes. He imagines the gorilla will be his friend. He reaches out his hand to introduce himself, believing that there is no difference between them. Yank unlocks the cage. The gorilla is freed. He imagines the gorilla will now embrace him. They will be together, and in this friendship, he will find freedom.

But in an instant, everything changes. The gorilla turns violent. It seizes Yank in its powerful arms. With a crushing force, Yank’s ribs shatter. His chest collapses under the pressure. Yank trembles in agony, his face filled with shock. He realizes the gorilla is not his friend, it is only a savage beast. The gorilla hurls Yank into the cage. He falls to the ground. His body is broken, his breath fading. He lies motionless. From his lips come his final words: now he has found his place. He has truly become an animal. The scene ends with his death. Yank’s body lies inside the cage. Around him is silence. The gorilla sits calmly once more.

This ending is symbolic. Yank had sought a place in human society, but the wealthy class, the workers, and the law all rejected him. At last, he turned to the animal world for refuge. But there too, he found nothing but death. The play ends here. Yank’s death becomes the symbol of modern industrial society’s loss of human identity and the tragedy of loneliness.