Anna Christie earned mostly positive reviews when it opened on Broadway in 1921, which helped it run successfully for 117 performances. The play also earned O'Neill a Pulitzer Prize. Over the years, its critical reputation has remained strong. Critics praise the play's realistic characterizations, especially of Anna and her father Chris. Percy Hammond, in his opening night review of the play for the New York Tribune, writes that Anna Christie presents the audience with a "veracious picture of some interesting characters in interesting circumstances." Frederic I. Carpenter, in his book on O'Neill, claims that "the character of Chris, 'childishly self-willed and weak, of an obstinate kindliness,' is one of O'Neill's minor triumphs." Several critics have considered Anna a realistic portrait of a street-wise, yet vulnerable, young woman. James Whittaker in his article for the New York.....
This is a free excerpt of 135 words. This section contains 452 words. This
study guide contains 17,940 words (approx. 60 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Literature Guide with our Anna Christie Access Pass.
