In Eugene O'Neill's Expressionist play 'The Hairy Ape', how does the protagonist Yank's changing environment mirror Expressionist themes?
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Correct answer: His growing alienation shows he belongs to neither high society nor the animal kingdom.
O'Neill's 'The Hairy Ape' heavily utilizes European Expressionist techniques to explore American industrial alienation. Yank, a stoker on a ship, is thrown into an identity crisis when an heiress calls him a filthy beast. His subsequent wanderings through New York highlight his complete isolation, showing he cannot find a sense of belonging in a modern world driven by class divides and machines.
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