The document provides an analysis of the play "The Hairy Ape" by Eugene O'Neill. It summarizes the characters including Yank, a primitive man struggling in industrial society who sees himself as an alien; Paddy, an old spokesman of machines who sees the bourgeoisie as dead; and Mildred Douglas, a victimized woman unable to accept her social identity. It also discusses themes of the play like the conflict between the proletariat and bourgeoisie, and how it protests beliefs of racial degeneration among African Americans during that time period.

1. The Hairy Ape
Anthropological study of modern
man

2. Anthropology?
• search for the origins of life
• making reference to atavistic remnants of
primitive man appearing in modern society
• Scientifically description of specific human
culture and societies

3. Individually and generally

4. Characters of the play
• Yank
• Mildred Douglas
• Paddy

5. yank
• Struggle of primitive man in industrial society
• The expression of “filthy beast” indicates
origin of man.
• His utter alienation from society
• He feels as if he belongs ; his life suits him.

6. Paddy
• “whiskey johnny” spouting philosophy and
stories of past.
• O'Neill describes him “extremely monkey”
• Spokesman of revolution brought by machines
• Yank s reference to him…”dead”, “old”
• Describes bourgeois by describing Mildred s
look

7. Mildred Douglas
• Victimized by the class of yank.
• All culture and education cannot escape her
primitive cultural identity.
• Search of identity
• Unable to accept the social identity

8. Presenting society
• Proletariats
• bourgeois

9. Class conflict
• The rich class might look at this life of
primitive man as comedy because a beastly
man dies.

10. RELATED THEME

11. RACIAL DEGENRATION
• “THE PLAY IS ALSO VERY MUCH PROTEST
AGAINST THE PRESENT”
• “I WILL ARGUE , IS TO ATTACK THE WIDELY
HELD BELIEF,AFFIRMED BY SCIENTIST IN THE
RACIAL DEGENRATION OF AFRICAN
AMARICAN RACE”

12. attempt to come into harmony with
his world

13. Man belongs to its end

14. Works consulted
• Contour in the time by
TRAVIS BOGARD
Racial Degeneration by
john nickel (article)
The Hairy Ape
Eugene O'Neill