Millennium Approaches 1.4
Summary
Louis and Prior are sitting on a bench after the funeral of Louis's grandmother. They are discussing the funeral and having usual banter when Prior suddenly shows Louis the lesions on his arm. He has a disease called kaposi's sarcoma Even though Louis gets extremely upset, Prior takes it in a very joking manner; he only fears that Louis will leave him because of his illness. Afterwards, Louis goes to bury his grandmother.
Notes
- WASPs (26) - "White Anglo-Saxon Protestants", a term that denotes either an ethnic group, or the culture, customs, and heritage of the Yankee ethnic group in the U.S..
- Shirley Booth (27) - an Academy Award-winning actress who gained enormous success in the 1950 Broadway play (as well, as the 1952 movie adaptation), Come Back, Little Sheba.
- K.S. (27) - Kaposi's Sarcoma, a cancer that afflicts tissues of the bones, muscles, blood vessels, cartilage, etc. Commonly linked to homosexual men with HIV or AIDS.
Commentary
Study Questions
- What is the Jewish custom to express love for the dead?
- How long was Louis's grandmother in the nursing home?
- Why didn't Louis visit her?
- What is the cat's name?
- What does Prior show Louis?
- What disease does Prior have?
- How does Louis react?