Millennium Approaches 1.9: Difference between revisions
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==Summary== | ==Summary== | ||
The scene opens with Roy and Henry, his doctor, in Henry's office. Dr. Henry informs Roy that his lesions, throat problem, and swollen glands are all related to Kaposi's sarcomas, meaning that Roy has AIDs. Roy accuses Henry of implying that he is either a drug addict, which must not be the case since there are no "tracks," or a homosexual, since the syndrome mostly afflicts them. Roy then threatens Henry by saying that if Henry does call him a homosexual, he will "destroy" Henry's medical career (50). | The scene opens with Roy and Henry, his doctor, in Henry's office. Dr. Henry informs Roy that his lesions, throat problem, and swollen glands are all related to Kaposi's sarcomas, meaning that Roy has AIDs. Roy accuses Henry of implying that he is either a drug addict, which must not be the case since there are no "tracks," or a homosexual, since the syndrome mostly afflicts them. Roy then threatens Henry by saying that if Henry does call him a homosexual, he will "destroy" Henry's medical career (50). | ||
[[Image:Pacino.jpg|right|thumb|''Al Pacino as Roy Cohn'']] | |||
Henry does not directly call Roy homosexual but instead says that Roy has slept with many men. Roy then goes off on a rant, saying that Henry is too "hung up on words, on labels" (51). Roy admits to having sex with men, but still insists that he is not homosexual since he has "clout." He then says that he does not have AIDs, he has liver cancer, since "AIDs is what homosexuals have" (52). Henry then says that he cannot get Roy any medication since the new drug AZT has a two-year waiting list. | Henry does not directly call Roy homosexual but instead says that Roy has slept with many men. Roy then goes off on a rant, saying that Henry is too "hung up on words, on labels" (51). Roy admits to having sex with men, but still insists that he is not homosexual since he has "clout." He then says that he does not have AIDs, he has liver cancer, since "AIDs is what homosexuals have" (52). Henry then says that he cannot get Roy any medication since the new drug AZT has a two-year waiting list. | ||
Revision as of 21:58, 13 April 2006
Summary
The scene opens with Roy and Henry, his doctor, in Henry's office. Dr. Henry informs Roy that his lesions, throat problem, and swollen glands are all related to Kaposi's sarcomas, meaning that Roy has AIDs. Roy accuses Henry of implying that he is either a drug addict, which must not be the case since there are no "tracks," or a homosexual, since the syndrome mostly afflicts them. Roy then threatens Henry by saying that if Henry does call him a homosexual, he will "destroy" Henry's medical career (50).
Henry does not directly call Roy homosexual but instead says that Roy has slept with many men. Roy then goes off on a rant, saying that Henry is too "hung up on words, on labels" (51). Roy admits to having sex with men, but still insists that he is not homosexual since he has "clout." He then says that he does not have AIDs, he has liver cancer, since "AIDs is what homosexuals have" (52). Henry then says that he cannot get Roy any medication since the new drug AZT has a two-year waiting list.
Notes
- Kaposi's sarcoma (49) - a cancer of the connective or supportive tissue. Caused by a herpesvirus infection in which cancerous cells form solid lesions in the connective tissue, KS was one of the first signs of the existence of the 1980s AIDS epidemic.
- lesions (49) - abnormal body tissue caused, in the case of Roy Cohn, by Kaposi's sarcoma.
- lymphadenopathy (49) - the swelling of one or more lymph node.
- oral candidiasis (49) - also called "oral thrush", an infection of yeast fungus in the mucous membranes of the mouth. Symptoms include white, cream coloured, or yellow spots in the mouth, and it is often found in people with HIV and AIDS.
- Hemophiliac (49) - someone with the hereditary genetic illness, Hemophilia, which impairs the body's ability to control bleeding.
Commentary
Study Questions
- What illness is Roy diagnosed with?
- How does Roy threaten Dr. Henry?
- For what else has Dr. Henry treated Roy?
- How does Roy define the term "homosexual"?
- Why does Roy not consider himself a homosexual?
- Who does Roy claim he could get on the phone in under five minutes?
- What does Roy call his illness?
- What is the name of the new wait-listed drug that could treat Roy?
External Resources
Works Cited
- Kushner, Tony. Angels in America. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 1995.