The Hairy Ape

The Hairy Ape (1922) is an expressionist play by Eugene O'Neill. The protagonist, Yank, yearns for a sense of belonging in a world he perceives as being controlled by the rich. Initially, Yank enjoys his job stoking the engines of an ocean liner. Then the wealthy daughter of a steel magnate refers to him as a "filthy beast", and Yank starts experiencing an identity crisis. He leaves the ship, and while walking around Manhattan, comes to the conclusion that he does not belong anywhere; not with the rich on Fifth Avenue nor with the labor unions on the waterfront. This alienation completes the destruction of his psyche.

On a visit to the zoo, he imagines himself to be a gorilla, opens the real animal’s cage and attempts to greet it. The hairy ape attacks Yank and throws him in the cage, where he dies.

Public Domain (P)2020 Museum Audiobooks

Worst narrator ever

Who picked a non US narrator for. A US story? Almost no female characters but a female narrator? So difficult to understand. Terrible job.