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Second Engineer
A secretary at the office of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) union that Yank visits. At first, the secretary warmly welcomes Yank and gives him pamphlets explaining the ins and outs of the organization. However, Yank soon reveals that he’s joining the union because he mistakenly believes they will help him blow up Nazareth Steel. When the secretary orders several IWW members to throw Yank out, they ask if they should beat him up, but the secretary says, “No. He isn’t worth the trouble we’d get into. He’s too stupid.” Just before the IWW members throw Yank out the door, the secretary adds, “You’re a brainless ape.”
The IWW Secretary Quotes in The Hairy Ape
The The Hairy Ape quotes below are all either spoken by The IWW Secretary or refer to The IWW Secretary. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Scene Seven Quotes
SECRETARY—President of the Steel Trust, you mean? Do you want to assassinate him?
YANK—Naw, dat don’t get yuh nothin’. I mean blow up de factory, de woiks, where he makes de steel. Dat’s what I’m after—to blow up de steel, knock all de steel in de woild up to de moon. Dat’ll fix tings! (eagerly, with a touch of bravado) I’ll do it by me lonesome! I’ll show yuh! Tell me where his woiks is, how to git there, all de dope. Gimme de stuff, de old butter—and watch me do de rest! Watch de smoke and see it move! I don’t give a damn if dey nab me—long as it’s done! I’ll soive life for it—and give ’em de laugh! (half to himself) And I’ll write her a letter and tell her de hairy ape done it. Dat’ll square tings.
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This conversation between the IWW secretary and Yank takes place when Yank tries to join the Industrial Workers of the World. Sensing that Yank doesn’t understand the point of the organization, the secretary asks him what he wants to do once he joins, and Yank admits he wants to harm Mildred’s father. When the secretary asks if he wants to “assassinate” this man, Yank says, “Naw, dat don’t get yuh nothin’.” This is an interesting thing to say, as it suggests that Yank has internalized some of Long’s ideas. Indeed, Long—and, to a certain extent, Paddy—has already tried to impress Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt
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The IWW Secretary Character Timeline in The Hairy Ape
The timeline below shows where the character The IWW Secretary appears in The Hairy Ape. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Scene Seven
...York City waterfront. In his dirty clothes, he knocks on the door and waits as the secretary inside says, “What the hell is that—someone knocking? Come in, why don’t you?” When Yank...
(full context)
The secretary writes Yank’s name on the membership card and welcomes him to the IWW, telling him...
(full context)
...says, “Yuh wanter blow tings up, don’t yuh? Well, dat’s me! I belong!” In response, the secretary says, “You mean change the unequal conditions of society by legitimate direct action or with...
(full context)
...of the IWW grab him. Just before they throw him onto the streets, they ask the secretary if they should “put the boots to him.” “No,” the secretary responds. “He isn’t worth...
(full context)
