O’Neill’s The Hairy Ape And Williams’ A Stre

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Appearance v Reality The recurrent theme of appearance v reality can be identified in O?Neill?s The Hairy Ape and Williams? A Streetcar Named Desire. The different playwrights use a variety of elements of stage drama to reveal the impact of this theme on specific characters in the plays. O?Neill uses expressionistic techniques to reveal the social reality of the drama and how Yank?s appearance has misguided his perception of that reality. O?Neill depends upon the effects of his staging to depict Yank?s appearance in conflict with reality. In contrast to the expressionistic techniques used by the other playwrights, Williams allows the theme to develop in the natural staging of the two-story corner building in New Orleans. Williams relies upon lighting, sound, and dramatic structure to reveal Blanche?s efforts to conceal the reality of her past with the appearance she projects to the other characters.

O?Neill uses expressionistic staging techniques and relies upon insights of the supporting characters to reveal the social realities of the ship.

The first scene is staged in a crowded room filled with men each of whose identity has been lost beneath their beards and the coal covering them. The space is dimly lit and the ceiling and walls confine the men who appear to have barely enough room to breathe. The expressionistic effects are meant to represent a cramped space in the bowels of a ship, as if the men are imprisoned by white steel. The dialogue of the unified mass of men suggests the drunk and angry tone of the scene. The men are lower class workers and are paid very little for the harsh labor conditions in the fireman?s forecastle. Long describes the oppressive nature of society as he declares, ?We wasn?t born this rotten way. All men are born free and...