Hairy Ape Character Analysis Essay

Style The Hairy Ape was done in the expressionist style of theater. Expressionism is the theatrical proficiency which will use the staging and setting to show the characters inner emotion or the keep the understructure constantly within the audiences sight. In Expressionism, characters do non act or babble the way they really would, everything is extreme to prove a point. In Expressionism plausibility is deliberately altered by the author to make the theme clear.Characters Yank Yank represents the lower class. He depicts the objet dartner in which it is the ram down at the bottom of society that allows society to run. Yank also represents how people can be skilled and persuaded to be comfortable in a situation that may not be best for their personalized development and become unable to fit in elsewhere. Yank is depicted in the play as Neanderthal and ape-like, not only in his speech, but also in his physical description. Yank and his channelmates be initially described as ?h airy-chested, with long arms of tremendous power, and low, receding brows? The sends combination is kept in constant hunched over pip due to his quarters on the ship Yank, at the outset of the play is even proud of his stick. Yank is so comfortable in his position that he lives in false security that he controls his surroundings. He feels that it is he who is better. He repeatedly states how it is he who makes the ship run. Not even realizing that he has mentally dehumanized himself he states that he is the ship.Yank plainly has no issue with his position, has never given it any thought and criticizes other shipmates who do, until he is observed by Mildred Douglas, who proclaims upon seeing him Oh, the filthy beast. It is at this point that Yank realizes he not simply a incision giving the ship motion, he is more than an animal or creature, he is a man. He is infuriated by Mildreds comment and seeks to prove his worth.Yanks desire to prove himself throws him into fighting he is no longer able to fit in as he did in his prior position on the ship and finds he does not belong in society outside the ship either.During Yanks moments of thought, of attempting to find himself and his position in life ONeill depicts him in the same position as Rodins sculpture The Thinker. This particular sculpture was Rodins depiction of what he truism as a brutish, almost Neanderthal type man, contemplating his existence and place in the world, which describes Yanks position quite well.Mildred Douglas Mildred Douglas is the upper class of society. She claims sociological interest when she requests a tour of the stokehole, but does not truly perform any kind of social work in the play. She claims herself a by-product of her loaded society. Mildred served as a tool to bring about Yanks personal dilemma. paddy field Paddy is a nostalgic character. He speaks of when he was a sailor as a young man and being at one with the sea. Paddy represents when man and nature were one. Pa ddy is resigned to the position he is in now, but longs for his good old days. Yank is unable to relate to this perspective, as he views himself as part of the ships mechanics. immense Long is a glimpse to the future towards social change. Unlike Yank, Long is aware of the barbarous treatment of the ships stokers. He speaks of the separation of the classes and its unfairness. Long speaks of ideas such as the men on the ship being voters and citizens and how the ships crew are more than merely slaves. Yank is unable to understand Longs point of view or his class-consciousness, instead, Yank considers him a preacher and a wimp.