Perestroika 4.1

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Summary

Split scene involving Louis and Prior on a park bench, and Roy and Joe in Roy's hospital room. Roy gives Joe his blessing, and Joe admits to Roy that he is homosexual. Roy does not take the news well, stands up which makes his IV fall out, and tells Joe to go home to his wife and never to talk to him about being homosexual again. Belize takes care of Roy's wound where the IV was, and Roy has another series of terrible spasms during which Ethel Appears

Lewis meets with Prior, and tells Prior that he misses him and wants to make up. Prior is bitter, and inquires about Lewis seeing other people. Prior realizes what the "Threshold of revelation." (Kushner 217) meant. Prior then tells Louis to not come back until he had visible bruises.

Notes

  • Kissinger (213)- Henery Kissinger served as Secretary of State[1] and National Security Advisor[2] under the Nixon[3] administration
  • Schultz (213)- George P. Schultz served as secretary of state from 1982 to 1989
  • conservatism (213)- political philosophy focusing on established institution, gradual change, and social stability
  • Mao (213)- Mao Zedong served as chairman of the central comitte of the Communist Party of China from 1943 until death
  • miasma (213)- a vapor that was believed to cause disease, or influence that caused corruption
  • stygian (214)- dark and dismal
  • moxy (214)- determination, or energy
  • Schmendrick (214)- character in "The Last Unicorn"[4]
  • Jacob (214)- figure from the Bible who wrestles and angel and dislocates his hip, but for his tenacity is blessed by god
  • atonement (216)- reconciliation for a wrong suffered
  • exoneration (216)- to be set free from blame

Commentary

Study Questions

  1. What former U.S. President does Roy refer to in the beginning of the act?
  2. Who's blessing did Roy ask Joe about?
  3. How old was Roy when he had the spur on his nose cut off?
  4. What did Prior already know about Louis's new lover?
  5. What causes Roy to bleed profusely?
  6. What does Roy tell Joe when Joe admits his homosexuality?
  7. What does Belize tell Joe to do with his shirt?
  8. What does Prior say he doesn't believe Louis has?
  9. What does Roy tell Belize is good for the soul?

External Resources

Works Cited

  • Kushner, Tony. Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 1995.
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