Angels in America

Angels in America

Study Guide

Part One: Millennium Approaches

Act One: Bad News

1. Act One, Scene 1
2. Act One, Scene 2
3. Act One, Scene 3
4. Act One, Scene 4
5. Act One, Scene 5
6. Act One, Scene 6
7. Act One, Scene 7
8. Act One, Scene 8
9. Act One, Scene 9

Act Two: In Vitro

1. Act Two, Scene 1
2. Act Two, Scene 2
3. Act Two, Scene 3
4. Act Two, Scene 4
5. Act Two, Scene 5
6. Act Two, Scene 6
7. Act Two, Scene 7
8. Act Two, Scene 8
9. Act Two, Scene 9
10. Act Two, Scene 10

Act Three: Not-Yet-Conscious, Foward Dawning

1. Act Three, Scene 1
2. Act Three, Scene 2
3. Act Three, Scene 3
4. Act Three, Scene 4
5. Act Three, Scene 5
6. Act Three, Scene 6
7. Act Three, Scene 7

Part Two: Perestroika

Act One: Spooj

1. Act One, Scene 1
2. Act One, Scene 2
3. Act One, Scene 3
4. Act One, Scene 4
5. Act One, Scene 5
6. Act One, Scene 6

Act Two: The Epistle

1. Act Two, Scene 1

Act Three: Borborygmi

1. Act Three, Scene 1
2. Act Three, Scene 2
3. Act Three, Scene 3
4. Act Three, Scene 4
5. Act Three, Scene 5

Act Four: John Brown's Body

1. Act Four, Scene 1
2. Act Four, Scene 2
3. Act Four, Scene 3
4. Act Four, Scene 4
5. Act Four, Scene 5
6. Act Four, Scene 6
7. Act Four, Scene 7
8. Act Four, Scene 8
9. Act Four, Scene 9

Act Five: Heaven, I'm in Heaven

1. Act Five, Scene 1
2. Act Five, Scene 2
3. Act Five, Scene 3
4. Act Five, Scene 4
5. Act Five, Scene 5
6. Act Five, Scene 6
7. Act Five, Scene 7
8. Act Five, Scene 8
9. Act Five, Scene 9
10. Act Five, Scene 10

Epilogue: Bethesda

1. Perestroika Epilogue

Characters

Roy Cohn

Based on the real life Roy Cohn, Kushner's character is a famous divorce lawyer and a very influential man in politics. His doctor, Henry, diagnoses him with AIDs, but Roy insists that he is not a homosexual, even though he does sleep with men. He also claims that his intervention resulted in the Rosenbergs' execution.

Harper Amaty Pitt

Harper Pitt is Joseph (Joe) Pitt's wife. She is heavily addicted to valium which frequently makes her hallucinate. She has agoraphobia, and creates an imaginary friend to avoid bad situations. During one of her hallucinations, she learns that her husband (Joe) is a homosexual. She then learns to manage these weaknesses she has and reshapes her life by moving to San Francisco. Though she appears as a weak character in the beginning of the play, she ends the play as a changed person. According to Bloom, Kushner’s women are stronger than the men (with the exception of Roy Cohn), especially Harper (299).

Mr. Lies

Harper Pitt's imaginary friend. He is a travel agent who sold Joe and Harper their plane tickets to Brooklyn, NY.

Doctor Henry

Roy Cohn's doctor, whom he has been going to since 1958. Diagnoses Roy with AIDS.

Nurse Emily

The nurse who looks after Prior Walter while he is in the hospital. Also does the checkups for Prior after he is released from the hospital.

Works Cited

• Trilling, Lionel, et. al. Bloom’s Period Studies: Modern American Drama. Chelsea House Publishers, 2005.