Tennessee Williams Research Paper Essay Example
Belen Spriggs
9 March 2012
Ms. Dougherty
AP English 11
Belen Spriggs
9 March 2012
Ms. Dougherty
AP English 11
Spriggs 1
Spriggs 1
\
Critical Analysis of Behaviors of Tennessee Williams
A significant playwright of the twentieth century, Tennessee Williams, possesses an insightful understanding of human relations and displays that understanding in a handful of his plays. Tennessee Williams’ lived through a rough childhood and had to grow up quickly to take care of his family as it crumbled before his eyes. His mother, father, and sister all became mentally ill and Williams’ family life shattered (Tennessee Vol.5, 2067). After being mentally and emotionally alienated by his family, Williams suffered with a prolonged period of depression (Bloom 13). Williams’ underwent many of the themes present in his works such as: loss, guilt, sexual desire, alienation, and insecurity. Williams proclaims that he has not written anything that he has not experienced or felt first hand (Bowman). His family relationships and lack of intimate relationships were especially significant in the motivations of writing The Night of the Iguana and Summer and Smoke, two very popular works of Williams. Throughout Williams’ two plays, there is an identical comprehension of the complexity of human behaviors and attitudes in order to criticize insecurities that prevent individuals to develop affectionate and intimate relationships with one another.
The Night of the Iguana is crucial amongst Williams’ works because it accurately reflects his conception of how human behaviors affect relationships. The play delves deeply within the human mind, particularly with the main character, Reverend T. Lawrence Shannon. The Night of the Iguana is set in Mexico during the 1940’s and tells the story of Reverend Shannon as it follows his journey of “a better man”. Shannon’s feelings and behavior are not hidden from the audience, but are shared in a way that makes the audience question Shannon and
9 March 2012
Ms. Dougherty
AP English 11
Belen Spriggs
9 March 2012
Ms. Dougherty
AP English 11
Spriggs 1
Spriggs 1
\
Critical Analysis of Behaviors of Tennessee Williams
A significant playwright of the twentieth century, Tennessee Williams, possesses an insightful understanding of human relations and displays that understanding in a handful of his plays. Tennessee Williams’ lived through a rough childhood and had to grow up quickly to take care of his family as it crumbled before his eyes. His mother, father, and sister all became mentally ill and Williams’ family life shattered (Tennessee Vol.5, 2067). After being mentally and emotionally alienated by his family, Williams suffered with a prolonged period of depression (Bloom 13). Williams’ underwent many of the themes present in his works such as: loss, guilt, sexual desire, alienation, and insecurity. Williams proclaims that he has not written anything that he has not experienced or felt first hand (Bowman). His family relationships and lack of intimate relationships were especially significant in the motivations of writing The Night of the Iguana and Summer and Smoke, two very popular works of Williams. Throughout Williams’ two plays, there is an identical comprehension of the complexity of human behaviors and attitudes in order to criticize insecurities that prevent individuals to develop affectionate and intimate relationships with one another.
The Night of the Iguana is crucial amongst Williams’ works because it accurately reflects his conception of how human behaviors affect relationships. The play delves deeply within the human mind, particularly with the main character, Reverend T. Lawrence Shannon. The Night of the Iguana is set in Mexico during the 1940’s and tells the story of Reverend Shannon as it follows his journey of “a better man”. Shannon’s feelings and behavior are not hidden from the audience, but are shared in a way that makes the audience question Shannon and