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 about their cat who has run away 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. Prior asks Louis if he will come home right after the burial. Louis assures Prior that he will come home after the burial of 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?
- Why does Prior believe the cat ran away?
- Why hasn't Prior told Louis of his illness until today?