Perestroika 2.1

Summary

Prior and Belize are outside the funeral parlor discussing the events of their friend's burial. Belize notices that Prior has been acting peculiar and mentions that to him. Prior tells Belize that he believes the dream about the angel did occur as well as "I'm a prophet"(169). However, Belize doesn't believe it. Prior continues to tell Belize about his strange encounter with the angel anyway.

Notes

• <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morticia_Addams">Morticia Addams</a>
• <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian">Sicilian</a>

Commentary

In this scene, Prior opens by saying that the funeral was "tacky"(Kushner 167). His comment is odd because he, even though he is no longer a drag queen, should have appreciated another queen's abnormality. Instead he seems to resent many of the things that he used to hold so dearly. He is also dealing with the idea of death. He is just completely unhappy at the funeral with the thought of his own funeral.Later in the scene, Prior tells Belize that his "eyes are fucked up" (Kushner 168). He says that his vision has been different since he encountered the angel. Literally, he may indeed see differently, but this could be symbolic of another change. Consistent with his distaste of the drag queen funeral, Prior is changing his entire perception of the world. At this point one can not determine where his opinions will go, and, quite possibly, neither does Prior.

Study Questions

1. Why does the death of this drag queen bother Prior so much?
2. What does Prior tell Belize he had seen?
3. Does Belize believe him?

External Links

• <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Kushner">For More About Kushner</a>