Tony Kushner’s Angels in America is a very complex drama dealing with many different themes. This seminar paper analyses the theme of social reconstruction. As I will expound, hybridity is the form of society aimed at by the characters of this play who strive for social change. In order to demonstrate the concept of a hybrid society, I analyse the characters who represent this idea with regard to their ethnic group membership and their position in society. On this basis, their views and interests become more evident and easier to understand. After that I analyse and interpret their role in the play in order to point out the consequences for the concept of social reconstruction towards a hybrid society.
First, the terms ethnicity and hybridity, which are essential for the analysis, are explained briefly. The next part of this paper presents two characters from different ethnic groups (Prior and Belize) striving for social change. On the basis of their position in society and their role in this play I then expound the concept of hybridity in the drama before analysing the relationship between Prior and Belize with regard to this idea. In chapter 4, other indications demonstrating if and how a social reconstruction is achieved are pointed out. The result of this analysis is summarized in the conclusion.
The chapter providing background information is mainly based on articles in reference books. Chapter 3 and 4 are built up on the analysis of Angels in America itself, whereas essays dealing with ethnicity and the concept of social reconstruction in this play serve as support for my work.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Background Information
2.1. Ethnicity vs. Race
2.2. Hybridity
3. Ethnic Groups in Angels in America
3.1. WASPs in Angels in America
3.2. Afro-Americans in Angels in America
3.3. The Relationship between Prior and Belize
4. A Successful Collaboration
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This seminar paper examines the theme of social reconstruction in Tony Kushner's drama Angels in America, specifically focusing on how the concept of a hybrid society is represented through the experiences and interactions of characters from different ethnic backgrounds.
- Analysis of ethnicity and race in the context of contemporary American society.
- Exploration of the concept of "hybridity" as an alternative to assimilation and multiculturalism.
- Representation of ethnic groups, particularly WASPs and Afro-Americans, in the play.
- Examination of the collaboration between Prior and Belize as a catalyst for social change.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. WASPs in Angels in America
WASP culture enters the play through the character of Prior Walter. The first important thing about him is the name Prior itself. Kushner explains that he came across it when he “had been looking for one of those WASP names that nobody gets called anymore.” Prior is not only a very rare WASP name, but also an adjective relating to someone or something before. The symbolic meaning of this name is shown in a conversation between Louis and Emily:
Emily: Weird name. Prior Walter. Like, “The Walter before this one.”
Louis: Lots of Walters before this one. Prior is an old old family name in an old old family. The Walters go back to the Mayflower and beyond. Back to the Norman Conquest. He says there’s a Prior Walter stitched into the Bayeux tapestry.
Both aspects, Prior as a very rare and old WASP name and the meaning of the adjective prior, portray him as WASP with a long lineage. This is supported by Louis’ statements. However, this long genealogy of the Walters is is about to break as Prior is infected with AIDS and has neither children nor brothers and sisters.
Chapter Summary
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the central theme of social reconstruction in the play, establishing the focus on hybridity and the roles of ethnic group representation.
2. Background Information: This chapter defines key theoretical terms such as ethnicity, race, and hybridity, distinguishing the latter from concepts like multiculturalism and the melting-pot.
3. Ethnic Groups in Angels in America: This section investigates how specific ethnic groups are represented, analyzing the roles of WASPs and Afro-Americans in the context of social hierarchy and change.
4. A Successful Collaboration: This chapter argues that the collaboration between Prior and Belize effectively demonstrates the success of the characters' movement toward a hybrid society.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes the paper's findings, affirming that despite the resistance of reactionary figures, the play ultimately portrays progress as inevitable.
Keywords
Angels in America, Tony Kushner, Hybridity, Social Reconstruction, Ethnicity, Race, WASPs, Afro-Americans, Perestroika, Millennium Approaches, Social Change, Identity, Multiculturalism, Stasis, Bethesda Fountain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this seminar paper?
The paper examines the concept of social reconstruction toward a hybrid society within Tony Kushner’s complex drama, Angels in America.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The work centers on ethnicity, race, the development of hybrid cultural identities, and the structural changes occurring within the American social order.
What is the central research question?
The paper explores how the characters in the play represent their respective ethnic groups and how their attitudes and interactions contribute to the author’s vision of a hybrid society.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper uses a literary analysis approach, drawing on post-colonial theory and definitions of ethnicity to interpret character development and symbolic meanings in the drama.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body analyzes definitions of hybridity, evaluates the representation of specific ethnic groups, and discusses the influential relationship between the characters Prior and Belize.
How would you characterize the keywords of this work?
The keywords highlight both the literary source material and the socio-theoretical concepts, such as "hybridity," "stasis," and "social reconstruction."
Why is the characterization of the "Angel" significant to the study?
The Angel is analyzed as a representative of stasis and reactionary conservatism, serving as a counter-model to the progress and hybridity that the human characters strive to achieve.
How does the name "Belize" function symbolically in the play?
The name ties the character to the nation of Belize, serving as a symbol of post-colonial ethnic diversity and representing the author's vision of an ideal, non-hierarchical community.
- Quote paper
- Tim Wamer (Author), 2005, Restructuring society - The concept of hybridity among different ethnic groups in Tony Kushner’s 'Angels in America', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/75462
