Read O'Neill's The Hairy Ape and compare its themes to those in Anna Christie.

Explore biographical details about O'Neill, especially those that concern his life on the sea and his relationship with his family. What autobiographical elements can you find in the play?

Investigate common attitudes toward prostitution in the first few decades of the twentieth century. How similar are those attitudes to today's attitudes?

How does the relationship between Anna and Mat reflect the changing role of women in the early part of the twentieth century?