Angels in America by Tony Kushner
Tony Kushner’s play Angels in America explores a variety of subjects. The novel takes set in the 1980s, notably during the tenure of right-wing President Ronald Reagan. Issues involving politics, sexuality, religion, and race combine to create an original and enjoyable plot. The play’s synopsis, “A Gay Fantasia on National Themes,” mentions all of this.
Angels in America by Tony Kushner
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The play’s plot revolves around two unhealthy relationships. Characters Joe Pitt and Harper are the subjects of the first one. Joe is a Mormon law clerk who works for Roy Cohn, a renowned republican attorney. Joe’s wife, Harper, stays at home due to a variety of problems, including a Valium addiction.
When Joe discovers that he is gay, Harper quickly responds, “Sometimes, maybe lost is best. The second partnership involves Prior Walter and Louis. Unfortunately, Prior receives an AIDS diagnosis, complicating their connection. Prior eventually tells Louis, “You can’t come back ever. Never, ever (284). The two relationships were interwoven and ultimately resulted in problems that persisted throughout the play. In addition to the two romances, other characters including Roy, nurse Belize, and Hannah (Joe’s mother) are as important to the plot. In the book, contentious issues like religion and political views are highlighted and have a significant impact on the results.
The play is outstanding and remarkable for its era. In the 1980s, the AIDS pandemic severely affected how people lived. Liberal homosexuals at the time frequently harboured resentment for Ronald Reagan, a conservative president, and felt isolated in the fight against AIDS. Reagan has been referred to as a “fascist hypocrite lying dirty” by Louis in the past. It’s interesting to compare how presidents are portrayed in the book to how they are in the modern era. It’s also interesting to see how many issues that were important in the ’80s are still important today.
