The Hairy Ape, Eugene O’Neill: Critical Analysis
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The Hairy Ape, written by Eugene O'Neill in 1921, faced initial challenges upon its first production by the Provincetown Players on March 9, 1922, in New York. The play did not achieve immediate success, and it was deemed obscene, immoral, and vulgar by the censors. However, its true greatness was soon recognized, and since then, it has been staged not only in America but also in various countries across Europe, consistently drawing packed houses. It has rightfully earned its place as one of the most popular plays, if not one of the greatest, by the esteemed dramatist.
The Genesis of The Hairy Ape
Eugene O'Neill himself provided insight into the genesis of the play. He recounted an encounter with a stoker named Driscoll, one of the furnace-room workers at Jimmy, the Priest's place. Driscoll, a Liverpoo…