| Angels in America: Topics and themes for discussion and reflection |
| Cypress
Semiconductor's Chief Executive Officer T.J. Rodgers visited San Jose
State University a few years ago and shared his views on freedom,
wealth, and happiness: "The basic premise of freedom is: I own
myself. Therefore, I do what I want, subject, of course, to the
responsibilities of observing the freedom of others." Can you
relate these views to the play?
In the PBS documentary about Angels (on reserve in the Gavilan library) Ron Liebman, who played Roy Cohn in the Broadway production, said his character is "filled with self-loathing. He hated his sexuality, his Jewishness, his liberal father--everything he came from." Do you agree with Ron's perceptions of the character? If so, how does this characterization help you understand Roy's behavior and motivation? Joe tells Harper he's like Jacob wrestling with the angel, but the battle is "fierce and unfair." Why does he describe his struggle this way? What are the opposing forces within him? In the PBS documentary, George C. Wolfe, the director of the Broadway production, said that Harper and Prior are vulnerable and at risk, yet they fly in the face of great fear. Do you agree with his characterization of them? If so, in what ways are they vulnerable? How do they demonstrate their strengths? Do they grow in the course of the play? Tony Kushner said in the documentary that Joe and Louis represent "Reagan's children--[they have] no connections, no responsibilities." In the play, Louis says his generation is "selfish and greedy and loveless and blind. . . . scared. . . . Everybody is in the land of the free" (74). What is he telling us about himself and others of his generation? How does his characterization help us understand his (and Joe's) behavior and motivation? |