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Two Not One in Angels in America

  • Journal of Modern English Drama
  • Abbr : JMBARD
  • 2004, 17(1), pp.153-175
  • Publisher : 한국현대영미드라마학회
  • Research Area : Humanities > English Language and Literature > English Literature > Contemporary English Drama

Haiyoung Lee 1

1상명대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Throughout Angels in America (Part 1 and Part 2), American playwright Tony Kushner presents the American society which is filled with disaster such as AIDS, racism, and the collapse of family. Kushner, especially, sees numerous gays dying of AIDS in 1980s and calls the time period the era of catastrophe. He, however, brings the play toward a hopeful future at the end of Part 2.In Part 1, the playwright exposes scars wide open. A major character Prior has AIDS. His body deteriorates and his partner Louis leaves him for another male partner named Joe. Joe's wife Harper is addicted to valium because she suspects that her husband is a homosexual. Roy has AIDS too, but tells others he has liver cancer. Because of this the world in Part 1 is interspersed with disaster, and Kushner declares Prior as prophet at the end of Part 1.In Part 2, Kushner brings genuine human relationships into the play. His characters try to connect to each other, two together rather than one alone. Louis returns to Prior, and at Roy's deathbed Louis, an Afro-American nurse named Belize, and Ghost Ethel (who was executed by her atom spy role) pray for him. Prior survives and the play moves toward a bright future. As the fulcurum of the play's developement and other characters, Prior brings other characters together and announces himself as prophet and blesses the audience. In Part 2 scars are healed, and characters face the future with hope. Symbolically, the Betheda Fountain in Central Park in New York City will flow again and heal those who have been hurt.This way, Kushner puts the emphasis on togetherness and connectedness, and only this will allow people to endure catastrophe and can bring a hopeful future to the society and its residents.

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