The Hairy Ape - Study Questions Flashcards
(9 cards)
Flashcard 1: What view of modern life does the setting for Scene One convey?
Scene One presents modern life as industrial, dehumanizing, and oppressive. The stokehold is a noisy, cramped, and hellish environment, showing how workers are reduced to mere cogs in the machine. It reflects the alienation and brutality of life in a mechanized, capitalist society.
Flashcard 2: What is the effect of the series of short scenes, rather than a more conventional three-act structure?
The episodic structure mirrors Yank’s psychological journey and fragmented sense of identity. It emphasizes his growing disconnection from the world as he moves through different social environments. This structure also keeps the play fast-paced and expressionistic, aligning with its experimental style.
Flashcard 3: How does O’Neill use the chorus?
O’Neill uses the chorus of firemen to reflect group mentality and emphasize class solidarity. Their repetitive dialogue and chants create a tribal rhythm and show the stokehold as a closed, masculine world. This heightens Yank’s initial confidence and later isolation.
Flashcard 4: In what respects is “Yank” a dominant member of his tribe in the stokehold?
Yank is physically strong, aggressive, and confident, making him the natural leader among the firemen. He sees himself as the heart of the ship, believing he makes it move with his strength. His dominance is unquestioned until it’s challenged by outside forces.
Flashcard 5: What incident changes his assumption of superiority?
Yank’s sense of superiority is shattered when Mildred, a rich young woman, recoils from him in horror. Her reaction makes him realize how the upper class views him—as something less than human. This humiliating encounter begins his existential crisis.
Flashcard 6: In what respects is Paddy an Irish stereotype?
Paddy is portrayed as nostalgic, poetic, and fond of drink—traits often associated with Irish stereotypes. He romanticizes the past and laments the brutal reality of modern labor. His character contrasts sharply with Yank’s aggressive modernism.
Flashcard 7: What political point of view does Long represent?
Long expresses a socialist perspective, criticizing the exploitation of the working class and advocating for political action. He sees class struggle as central to the workers’ oppression. However, his ideas are often dismissed by others, including Yank.
Flashcard 8: What is the effect of the long monologues?
The monologues reveal the characters’ inner thoughts and highlight their isolation and psychological turmoil. Yank’s speeches in particular show his confusion and growing desperation. These moments intensify the play’s emotional and existential depth.
Flashcard 9: Is The Hairy Ape a comedy or a tragedy?
The Hairy Ape is primarily a tragedy, tracing Yank’s fall from self-assured dominance to alienated despair. His search for identity and belonging ends in failure and death. While there are brief moments of dark humor, the overall tone is bleak and fatalistic.
