The Hairy Ape as a Social Satire

Learn Further ▾ Background Plot Summary Themes Quotes Character Analysis Symbolism Motifs Q&As As Modern Tragedy As Expressionist Play As Social Satire Alienation & identity In his plays, Eugene O'Neill emerges as a discerning critic of post-war American society, focusing on the individual's relationship with the social environment rather than with fate or divine intervention. The Hairy Ape exemplifies O'Neill's scathing critique of a soulless and mechanized society that engenders frustration, disillusionment, and a profound sense of alienation. Unlike social dramas that offer neat solutions, O'Neill's plays delve into the complex psychological and philosophical implications of life within this society, defying easy classification. Condemnation of the Status Quo "The Hairy Ape" presents an extremely bleak portrayal of mechanized America, where the most well-adjusted worker is reduced to a mere "hairy ape," and the "Capitalist class" is de…