Question:
Discuss the themes that are evident in Eugene O'Neill's "The Hairy Ape."
The subject of identity comes up quite often in Eugene O'Neill's "The Hairy Ape". Although many other pressing social issues are brought to the forefront, such as race, gender, and class bias, the subject of identity seems to be the easiest to analyze and support when writing a paper on this particular play. This excerpt will help students understand why Mr. O'Neill's references to a hairy ape are so significant for this reading and relative to this genre of writing.