Paste your essay in here…In Tony Kushner’s play “Angels in America” the strong concept of “identity” is explored through each character. Factors such as religion, sexuality, and social class play a role in assigning the play’s characters with their own sense of individuality. Living in such an unaccepting world, at times it can be hard to find your true self. Throughout Tony Kushner’s play “Angels in America”, there are quite a few characters who have trouble accepting themselves for who they really are. Whether it is striving for a new identity, or being limited by one according to social standards.
It’s safe to say that Kushner’s “Angels in America”, is one of the most famous plays to explore the topic of homosexuality. Joe 's character represents the many people in the gay community who have been taught to be ashamed of who they are. His struggle to come out epitomizes the struggle of many gay Americans. All of the major male characters are homosexuals. Gay marriage has been a sore topic for years. Considering the fact that this play was written in 1991, gay marriage just became legal in 2015. Over all the share of Americans who say that homosexuality should be accepted by society has dramatically increased from 47% to 60% over the past decade, while the percentage saying it should be discouraged has fallen from 45% to 31%. Across most demographic subgroups, including most religious groups, the percentage saying homosexuality should be accepted has increased over the past era. Although, those who attend religious services weekly or more usually think homosexuality should be discouraged. The reason most people are hesitant about their identity is because of what this society thinks. The character who goes through the most difficult struggle is Joe Pitt. Joe is a conservative Mormon. Growing up he has always been taught that homosexuality is a sin, and he knows his mother will no accept the fact that he is homosexual. Regardless of moral obligations to other human beings; he would rather bury his feelings than let anyone down. It is overwhelming to have to deny who you truly are, to be accepted the people surrounding you who love you. Joe has always tried to fight he feelings inside. Due to his professional and religious responsibilities he never acted on his sexual impulses. It came to the point that he thought he could pray away his sexuality. Another way he avoided his mindsets was by staying with Harper, even though he knew he was gay. Little did he know that he was hurting her as well. She took drugs to get away from reality and hoped that everything would get better. But towards the end of the play she feels extremely abandoned by Joe and leaves him for good. Joe’s humanity is threatened; he is being forced to lie about his life. Joe is just beginning to come to terms with his sexuality, realizing that he has feelings for Louis and letting his marriage fall to pieces. When Harper is hallucinating and taking Valium, we can look at it as a symbol of the false reality that her and Joe have to live in. When Joe sates, “As long as my behavior is what I know it has to be, decent, correct that alone in the eyes of God” (40). He says this because he thinks that God wants him to live a certain way, even though the way he is being directed is opposed to his nature. Joe’s true identity is in disagreement with his fake worldly identity. But by the end of the play he comes out to both his mother, and his wife. Lives are ruined by the stereotypes and extremely high standards that are created by the world.
Another character that has to hide his identity is Roy Cohn. Even AIDS infection serves
as an identity type, written into the skin as visibly as race. He also is a closeted homosexual. He has a high political power; this is the cause of him not being openly gay. The homosexual community has little power, and this scares him. He is obsessed with the amount of power that he has, and he will not lose that. This is where politics come into play, being a “right wing” conservative he is supposed to generally opposed to gay marriage. He is in a good political position and knows that coming out could risk losing power, and this is terrifying for him. He changed the label of his diagnosis from AIDS, to liver cancer to avoid losing the respect of people who are above him. The impression that homosexuals are nobodies is a great example of how identity politics or other things pressure people into becoming tied down by lies. The identities of people and their true selves is often hidden under the identity of what they are compelled to show others. Homosexuality is only one of the many things that can keep people from exposing their genuine identity. Throughout the novel many characters are diagnosed with AIDS. The first five cases of AIDS were initially reported in June of 1981. AIDS has taken the lives of 636,000 Americans. In 1992, there were 250,0000 reported cases of AIDS. Of those 250,000 cases 200,000 had died. A more recent study in 2004, there were 1,000,000 reported cases, only 500,000 had died. It is still decreasing today. Gay or bisexual men make up the majority of the infections in the United States. Living with this terrible disease can be extremely difficult, even more so when you are homosexual. Hiding the fact that you are not only a homosexual, but are also infected with AIDS is not easy. Kushner pens a metaphoric “food chain” to declare that identity is unquestionably built through power, and that AIDS assumes a disgrace of homosexuality. The image of masculinity was enhanced by the visible attacks on the male homosexual status, this not only produced a social crisis that was emphasized by the repulsion of AIDS, but it also led to a crisis of identity. “AIDS philosophers of the 1980s and 1990s closely connected the dis-courses of the disease with homosexuality. Roy Cohn is aware of the powerful broad reality surrounding the occurrence of AIDS and is ready to give rise to a counter-discourse, applying his own procedure of naming and identifying his bodily experience when he says, “AIDS is for homosexuals. I have liver cancer.” (1;9). The real Roy Cohn’s denial of his AIDS diagnosis has been fuel for Kushner and many others to write about his cause of death. Roy also seems kind of homophobic, ironic because he is also a homosexual. Just as he 's disgusted by his fellow Jews, he has no respect for other gay men. The reason Roy acts so homophobic towards gay men, is because he is afraid of his own true identity. He does not want anyone to know or see that he is a homosexual man with a terrible disease called AIDS. This unique play shows valuable insight into the lives of AIDS victims, and shows the reader how difficult it really can be. Kushner makes the point that like AIDS, emotional cruelty is present everywhere and is something susceptible to not only gay people but straight people also.
On the contrary, Prior Walter is a character who is confident with his identity and who he is as a person. Prior is openly gay, and does not lie about his HIV status. Even though living the life he does, must be very difficult in the world he lives in, he makes the most of what he has. He has a good sense of humor about what is happening to him, even though he is dying, he tries to help other people too. The way that he is openly gay and HIV positive helps Harper. She learns to accept the fact that Joe likes men. Prior and Harper are going through almost the same situation here, they both love unfaithful men. It just so happens that both of the men they love, get together. Belize is also an openly homosexual man; he is a nurse who treats AIDS patients. The both of them do not try to pretend to be anything but who they really are. These characters can be an inspiration to people to show their true identity, even if you will be judged for it. Living in a homophobic society, being homosexual can a never ending task. Prior and Belize do not want to change themselves just to keep a good reputation and to fit into the standards of the society they live in. It may be a frightening thought to show your genuine identity, when you aren’t accepted in the society you live in but that doesn’t mean you should hide it. Everyone should love the way they are, regardless of what others think or how you will be looked at by others.
Throughout this novel there are many themes, identity happens to be the most prevalent. Many people can relate to trying to find their true selves, and being confident with it. The characters with the biggest roles, also had the most difficult battles to face. Whether it’s keeping your sexual orientation a secret or denying the fact that you are diagnosed with one of the most disturbing diseased, it can be nearly impossible to open up to people. Joe went through a hard conflict trying to deny his homosexuality, and wishing it away. While he was oblivious to how hurt his wife was. He was taught his entire life, that being gay was not acceptable and that it was wrong. Going against his morals was the biggest fear he had. He knew that his mother wouldn’t accept the fact that she had a gay son, and that would be hurtful to him. Most religious people are against homosexuality. Being a religious homosexual is not impossible, it happens everyday. This play was written in the 1990’s and the acceptance of homosexuals has come a long way since then. Today, homosexuals are making history. This year in 2015, gay marriage became legal in all 50 states. With Joe, like in most cases, he finally accepted himself for being gay and expressed it to Louis. This was wrong, because both of them were in relationships while they got together. But, in this case it turns out it wasn’t that bad because he finally found who he wanted to be. Roy Cohn also experienced a similar struggle accepting himself for who he was inside. He was a powerful political figure, and wanted nothing more but to keep gaining power. He knew that homosexuals were looked down on, and considered a very weak group of people. Because of this he understood that no one could find out that he was a homosexual man. He even acted as a homophobic person. This is very ironic because he also was a gay man. He wasn’t only fighting against being gay, but also the fact that he was diagnose with AIDS. If anyone knew this they would never look at him the same. If you have AIDS you are automatically put in to the stereotype that this society has made. The history of AIDS has came a long way since the first cases were found. Researchers are still working every day to help people with AIDS. Living with AIDS, and being a homosexual in the world back then remained unacceptable. Prior and Belize both accepted their identity as gay men and were open about who they were. Finding yourself, and letting the world around you know who you truly are is very important. It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks, be happy with who you are and the rest will follow.