The Hairy Ape: Play Guide and Free Edition
The Hairy Ape: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Hairy Ape is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for O'Neill, Eugene (1888–1953).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Hairy Ape" by Eugene O'Neill is a play written in the early 20th century that delves into themes of identity, class struggle, and the search for belonging. Centered around the character Robert Smith, known as "Yank," the narrative explores the life of coal stokers aboard a transatlantic liner, juxtaposed against the opulence of the upper class, which is epitomized by the character Mildred Douglas. As Yank grapples with his identity and feeling of alienation, the play offers a critical examination of the human condition and societal divisions. The opening of the play introduces us to the stokehole of the ship, where Yank and his fellow workers live and work in squalor and camaraderie. The scene is filled with chaotic energy, underscoring the oppressive environment and the men’s need to drown their despair in alcohol and bravado. Yank emerges as a powerful figure among the stokers, consumed by pride in his physical strength as he sees himself as essential to the ship’s operation. The scene unveils the stark contrast between Yank’s raw, animalistic vigor and the disdainful barrier represented by Mildred, who later observes the firemen and recoils in horror at Yank’s brute appearance. This encounter sets in motion Yank's journey of existential questioning as he strives to assert his place in a world that seems to reject him.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Hairy Ape
- Author credits: O'Neill, Eugene (1888–1953)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- New York (N.Y.) -- Drama
- Social classes -- Drama
- Unskilled labor -- Drama
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Plays/Films/Dramas
- Nobel Prizes in Literature
- One Act Plays
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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