Context Flashcards
Descibe Tennesee Williams’ father- context
Father: travelling salesman an achoholic, vilent temper and abusive
What was Williams’ mother like? - context
Mother: child of music teacher and priest, didnt want to be in the marrige with her husband so focused her efforts on her children (ended up separated by never formally divorced)
What was Williams’ sister like?
Sister: close to Williams, suffered from schitzsophrenia, put into a private care institution by Williams after she suffered a lobotomy
What happened to Williams after his successes in the ‘40s and ‘50s?- context
He suffered from personal turmoil and theatrical failures, suffered form substance abuse which negatively impacted upon his work
What was Williams’ sexual orientation and how did this affect him as he grew older?- context
He was homosexual,as he grew older, he feared old age and losing his appeal to younger, fitter men.
How did Williams die?- context
He died at 71 due to asphyxiation on a plastic cap he was using to ingest barbituates in his hotel room.
What is the significance of Polish heritage in the US?
They are the largest group ancestraly after Germans, largely dominated by the jewish community, emigrated over after WW2.
What did Nativists believe about the growth in immigration to the US?
They thought that thse immigrants couldn’t adapt to American culture, thought the US was becoming a dumping ground, waned to introduce a literacy test prior to entry.
What are the characteristics of the southern gothic genre?
Irrational thoughts and actions, horriffic and transgressive thought/impuleses, grotesque characters, dark humor, angst-ridden sense of alienation, decayed/derilict settings, events stemming from powrty, crime or violence.
What do the Characters explore in the southern gothic genre?
Madness, decay and despair, also deal with lost ideals of a dispossesed southern aristocracy and the racial and cultural hostilities that follow.
How do the villains act in the southern gothic genre?
They usually hide themselves as the vitims or as being innocent wich blurs the line between the two
What are the characteristics of the southern belle?
Polite, warm, respectful, well-kempt and dressed, use an eloquent dialogue, alluring southern accent.
Describe the french quater of new orleans and new orleans in general, where the majority of the play is set?
One of the most historic and culture rich parts of the city, traces back to the development of the city by the french when the owned parts of America. Largest port and exported the most cotton out of the states. Large area of immgration due to its european ties, melting pot of people from various countries and backgrounds.
What does the term ‘new immigration’ mean?
The influx of people of catholic and jewish heritage from european descent that emigrated the US
