Angels in America: Millennium Approaches - Lecture Notes

Introduction

• This is a dramatic reading of the play Angels in America by Tony Kushner.
• The setting and characters for Act One are introduced.
• The scene is set in October-November 1985.

Act One: Bad News

Scene One

• Rabbi Isadore Chemelwitz delivers a eulogy for Sarah Ironson.
• Describes Sarah as part of the immigrant wave that brought Jewish culture from Eastern Europe to America.
• Emphasizes the theme of cultural displacement and the endurance of cultural identity.

Scene Two

• Roy Cohn is introduced, a powerful lawyer with connections.
• Conversation with Joe Pitt about moving to Washington for a Justice Department job.
• Highlights Roy's manipulative and pragmatic nature.

Scene Three

• Harper Pitt is alone, expressing her mental health struggles.
• She hallucinates her imaginary friend, Mr. Lies, a travel agent.
• Themes of escapism and mental illness.

Scene Four

• Louis and Prior discuss the eulogy and Jewish identity, touching on their relationship.
• Prior reveals a KS lesion, a sign of AIDS.
• Louis struggles with the potential moral dilemma of staying with Prior.

Act Two: In Vitro

Scene One

• Prior experiences health decline due to AIDS, leading to tension with Louis.
• Louis grapples with the ethical implications of leaving Prior.

Scene Two

• Harper and Joe's strained marriage is depicted.
• Joe reveals his struggle with his sexual identity.
• Harper fantasizes about leaving her real life troubles behind.

Scene Three

• Louis meets Joe in a park, indicating overlap in their narratives.
• Roy reveals to Joe his manipulative tactics in past legal cases.
• The theme of ethical ambiguity and corruption in politics.

Act Three: Not Yet Conscious, Forward Dawning

Scene One

• Prior's ancestors visit him, heralding a message of prophecy.
• The theme of legacy and historical continuity.

Scene Two

• Louis debates the nature of democracy and freedom with Belize, revealing his turmoil over leaving Prior.
• Highlights tensions between personal guilt and broader social justice issues.

Scene Three

• Harper finds herself in an imagined Antarctica, representing her desire to escape reality.
• Mr. Lies emphasizes the need to respect delusions and the boundaries of reality.

Scene Four

• Hannah arrives in New York City, lost and overwhelmed.
• Depicts her interactions with a homeless woman, highlighting her disorientation and determination.

Scene Five

• Joe and Roy have a climactic confrontation.
• Roy reveals his illness (labeled as "liver cancer") and uses this as a metaphor for his social power.
• Joe refuses to help Roy with legal issues, asserting his own ethical boundaries.

Scene Six

• Prior receives a visit from the Angel, marking the climax of the mystical elements in the play.
• The Angel heralds Prior as a prophet, signaling the start of a new chapter.

Themes

• The play explores themes of identity, mortality, love, and politics.
• It addresses the AIDS crisis and its impact on relationships and society.
• Examines the tension between personal desires and social responsibilities.

Conclusion

• Angels in America is a complex, multi-layered narrative combining personal drama with broader social commentary.
• Kushner uses magical realism to explore deep themes and character arcs.