The socio-political context Tony Kushner engaged with in 1980s America had a significant influence on the development of Angels in America. Kushner began writing Angels in America in 1988, reflecting on the onset of the AIDS crisis which became a significant political issue in the early 1980s. Avert, an international AIDS and HIV charity, has a detailed timeline which outlines how homosexuals were among the first to be identified with the disease.
The focus on homosexuals, and the lack of knowledge about the disease, is addressed extensively in Angels in America, set at the height of the AIDS crisis and focusing primarily on gay characters.
Characters with Different Perspectives
The characters in Angels in America can be seen to represent competing discourses based on homosexuality and AIDS. For example, in Millenium Approaches Prior Walter explains to Louis that he is sick, saying “I’m a lesionnaire. The Foreign Lesion…” suggesting he is aware of the disease he has, and also what the social implications are (Millennium Approaches, 2007, Act 1 Scene 4, pp.26-7).
Identifying himself as “foreign” implies alienation from society, but the “Foreign Lesion” pun also suggests he is part of a community. Through this statement Prior Walter can be seen to represent a discourse for open homosexuality.
In contrast to Prior Walter, the character of Roy Cohn denies both his homosexuality and being diagnosed with AIDS in a scene between him and his doctor, stating "AIDS is what homosexuals have. I have liver cancer." (Millennium Approaches, 2007, Act 1 Scene 9, p.52). This conversation reveals the character of Roy Cohn to be a binary opposite of Prior Walter.
Attitudes and Character Resolutions
The outcomes for these two characters highlight their different attitudes and how their action, or inaction, impacts on them throughout the play.
Prior Walter accepts his sexuality and illness and survives to the end of Perestroika. But Roy Cohn – who denies his sexuality and AIDS – deteriorates throughout Perestroika and in a scene before his death announces there is “nobody…with me now. But the dead” (Perestroika, 2007, Act 4 Scene 1, p.222).
The differences in their fates suggests Prior Walter’s acceptance of himself lead to a more positive future, while Roy’s denial was like a disease in itself.
These two characters are an example of different stereotypes at the time, and effectively illustrate the complex social implications of both AIDS and homosexuality during the 1980s. Examples such as this one reveal how Kushner's social context had a significant impact on the development of Angels in America.
Amy Bradney-George - Amy is an Australian actor and writer currently living in Melbourne, Australia. Her published writing work includes articles in several ...
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