Racial Elements and Belongingness in The Hairy Ape by Eugene O’Neill

ABSTRACT

Eugene O’Neill is a notable tragic author in the field of American literature. As a father of modern American drama, he portrayed black characters in many of his plays.As O’Neill became aware of the racial injustice in United States, through a series of his plays he hope that American should know the life of equality. Racism is a form of oppression by one race against another and it is arose in 1600s along with capitalism and it isdone on the basis of their skin color, race or ethnic origin. This research paper analyses the racial elements as well as the belongingness of the protagonist in the story ‘The Hairy Ape’ (1922) by Eugene O’Neill. In this play we find an alienated protagonist, Yank who is in dilemma that from which class he belongs. He is from lower class and struggling for his identity. The antagonist of the play is Mildred, the daughter of a steel merchant. The play is of VIII scenes with ethnic dialect. In this play, Yank is represented with a purpose, for a change in society. The conflict between Yank and Mildred symbolizes modern class conflict.

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