Play: The Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neill Yank as a Tragic hero or 'Hairy Ape' as a modern tragedy Introduction:- Most of O'Neill's plays are tragedies 'Hairy Ape' is also a great tragedy. But it is not a conventional tragedy in the Aristotlelian tradition but a modern tragedy. It's subject matter and theme is the same, but it's form is different. It is a great tragedy with a great difference. Yank as a tragic hero: not a man of high rank- Aristotle laid down that the hero of tragedy must be exceptional individual, man of high rank, a king or a prince so that his fall from his greatness would arouse the tragic emotions of pity and fear. All Shakespeare's heroes fulfil this requirement. But Yank, the hero of 'Hairy Ape' is not a man of high rank. He is not a king or a prince or some extra ordinary human being. He is a common stoker whose business is to shove fuel into the furnace of the ships engine. For long hours, he has to work
Comments
Post a Comment