Tony Kushner’s Angels in America: Part 2 is a monumental play exploring the AIDS crisis, spirituality, and political upheaval of 1980s America. This Pulitzer Prize-winning work blends realism with fantasy, delving into themes of identity, morality, and redemption through interconnected lives, offering a profound commentary on human resilience and societal change.
Plot Summary
Angels in America: Part 2, subtitled Perestroika, continues the haunting narrative of the AIDS epidemic, intertwining the lives of its characters in a tapestry of despair, hope, and transformation. The story picks up where Millennium Approaches left off, with Prior Walter, a young gay man living with AIDS, grappling with his newfound role as a prophet after being visited by an Angel. Meanwhile, Louis Ironson, Prior’s former lover, struggles with guilt and political activism, while Joe Pitt, a closeted Mormon lawyer, and his wife Harper, who is battling addiction and mental health issues, find their lives unraveling.
The play delves deeper into the spiritual and political undercurrents of 1980s America, as characters confront their inner demons and societal upheaval. Belize, Prior’s eccentric friend and nurse, serves as a voice of reason and compassion, while Hannah Pitt, Joe’s mother, arrives in New York, bringing her own brand of conservative morality. The Angel, a recurring symbol, represents divine judgment and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.
Throughout the play, Kushner masterfully weaves together realism and fantasy, culminating in a powerful resolution that explores themes of healing, forgiveness, and the resilience of the human spirit. The characters, each on their own journey, find a path toward redemption and understanding, leaving the audience with a sense of hope amidst the devastation of the AIDS crisis.
Themes
Angels in America: Part 2 explores profound themes of spirituality, identity, and redemption. The play delves into the clash between divine judgment and human frailty, while examining the search for meaning amidst chaos. It also underscores the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
AIDS Crisis
Tony Kushner’s Angels in America: Part 2 vividly portrays the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis during the 1980s. The play captures the fear, stigma, and desperation surrounding the disease, which was then poorly understood and highly stigmatized. Through the character of Prior Walter, Kushner illustrates the physical and emotional toll of AIDS, as well as the isolation and abandonment experienced by many sufferers. The play also critiques the societal and political indifference to the epidemic, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community, which was disproportionately affected.
Kushner weaves historical context into the narrative, reflecting the lack of medical progress and the inadequate response from both the government and the healthcare system. The play highlights the resilience and solidarity of those living with AIDS, who formed support networks and advocated for change. At the same time, it explores the metaphysical dimensions of the crisis, using the character of the Angel to symbolize both divine judgment and the search for hope in a time of despair. By blending realism with fantastical elements, Kushner creates a powerful exploration of the human condition during one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century.
Political Landscape
Tony Kushner’s Angels in America: Part 2 delves deeply into the political landscape of 1980s America, a time of heightened conservatism and social upheaval. The play critiques the Reagan administration’s policies, particularly its handling of the AIDS crisis and its embrace of neoliberal ideologies. Through the character of Joe Pitt, a Republican lawyer grappling with his sexuality and faith, Kushner examines the moral and ethical contradictions of conservative politics. The play also explores the tension between personal identity and political ideology, as characters like Louis Ironson and Prior Walter navigate their roles as activists and individuals within a hostile societal framework.
The political landscape is further illuminated through the character of Roy Cohn, a ruthless lawyer and symbol of political power, whose ties to McCarthyism and Reagan-era conservatism underscore the play’s critique of corruption and hypocrisy. The Angel, a divine figure, serves as a metaphor for the judgment of a nation that has abandoned its most vulnerable citizens. Kushner’s portrayal of the legal and political systems reveals a world dominated by greed, power, and indifference, yet also highlights the resistance and resilience of marginalized communities. The play ultimately challenges viewers to confront the ethical failures of the time and consider the possibility of radical change.
Spirituality and Religion
Angels in America: Part 2 by Tony Kushner explores the profound interplay between spirituality and religion amidst the turmoil of the AIDS crisis. The play delves into themes of divine judgment, moral decay, and the search for transcendence. Central to this exploration is the character of Prior Walter, a man grappling with his AIDS diagnosis, who experiences visions of an angel heralding the end of humanity. This divine visitation serves as a metaphor for the spiritual awakening and reckoning that occurs throughout the play.
The character of Harper Pitt, Joe’s wife, struggles with her Mormon faith and the emptiness of her marriage, reflecting the broader disillusionment with institutional religion. Her hallucinations of a fantastical Antarctic landscape symbolize her inner spiritual journey and the disconnect between her beliefs and reality. Conversely, the character of Belize, a nurse and former drag queen, embodies a more pragmatic spirituality, blending his caring for others with a skeptical view of organized religion.
Kushner critiques the hypocrisy of religious institutions, particularly their failure to address the AIDS crisis with compassion. Yet, the play also offers a vision of hope and healing, suggesting that true spirituality lies in human connection and the struggle for justice. Through its complex characters and symbolic imagery, Angels in America challenges audiences to rethink the role of faith in a fractured world.
Characters
Angels in America: Part 2 features a diverse cast of characters grappling with identity, morality, and survival. Prior Walter, a man living with AIDS, encounters divine visions, while his ex-partner Louis Ironson struggles with guilt and abandonment. Joe Pitt, a closeted Mormon lawyer, and his wife Harper, battling addiction, navigate their crumbling marriage. Belize, a wise and compassionate nurse, serves as a voice of reason, while Hannah Pitt, Joe’s conservative mother, embodies traditional values. The enigmatic Angel represents divine judgment, challenging the characters to confront their choices and humanity.
Prior Walter
Prior Walter, the protagonist of Angels in America, is a gay man living with AIDS in 1980s New York. Diagnosed with the disease, he faces physical and emotional deterioration, yet maintains a fierce resilience. His ancestral lineage as a Waspy intellectual contrasts with his modern struggles, reflecting the play’s exploration of identity and legacy. The appearance of an angel in his life symbolizes both divine judgment and personal transformation, as Prior grapples with spirituality and mortality. His relationship with Louis Ironson, who abandons him, underscores themes of love, betrayal, and survival. Prior’s journey is marked by visions of a heavenly council and a prophecy, positioning him as a reluctant prophet in a chaotic world. Despite his suffering, Prior embodies strength and defiance, ultimately embracing his identity and rejecting the notion of divine condemnation. His character serves as a powerful metaphor for the AIDS crisis and the broader struggle for human dignity in the face of adversity. Through Prior, Kushner examines the intersection of personal and political struggles, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit.
Louis Ironson
Louis Ironson, Prior Walter’s boyfriend, is a central character in Angels in America, grappling with personal guilt and political ideology. His relationship with Prior is strained by the latter’s AIDS diagnosis, leading Louis to abandon him, a decision that haunts him throughout the play. Louis’s internal conflict stems from his liberal beliefs clashing with his inability to act on them, revealing a disconnect between his ideals and reality.
Louis’s journey explores themes of identity, responsibility, and moral cowardice. His interactions with Joe Pitt, a conservative Mormon lawyer, further complicate his struggle, as he is drawn to Joe’s certainty despite their ideological differences. This dynamic reflects the play’s broader examination of political and sexual identity during the 1980s.
Ultimately, Louis’s character serves as a commentary on the human capacity for both cruelty and redemption. His story underscores the challenges of navigating love, loss, and politics in a turbulent era, making him a poignant and complex figure in Kushner’s exploration of American society.
Joe Pitt
Joe Pitt, a conservative Mormon and Republican lawyer, is a pivotal character in Angels in America, embodying the clash between religious faith and personal identity. His struggle with homosexuality and his marriage to Harper Pitt create a web of denial and repression. Joe’s internal conflict is exacerbated by his political ambitions and his relationship with the corrupt lawyer Roy Cohn, who becomes a mentor and confidant.
Joe’s journey explores themes of hypocrisy, self-deception, and the fragility of identity. His inability to reconcile his faith with his desires leads to a downward spiral of moral compromise. His affair with Louis Ironson highlights the tension between his public persona and private truths, further complicating his relationships and sense of self.
Throughout the play, Joe’s character serves as a critique of the oppressive ideologies of 1980s America, particularly the intersection of religion and politics. His story underscores the personal and societal costs of repression, offering a nuanced portrayal of a man trapped between his beliefs and his true nature.
Ultimately, Joe Pitt’s narrative is one of tragic self-discovery, illustrating the devastating consequences of internalized homophobia and the pursuit of power at the expense of authenticity. His struggles resonate deeply within the play’s broader exploration of identity, morality, and redemption.
Harper Pitt
Harper Pitt, the wife of Joe Pitt, is a deeply troubled and complex character in Angels in America. Her journey in the play is marked by her struggle with mental health, marital disillusionment, and the constraints of her Mormon faith. Harper’s reliance on pills and her vivid hallucinations serve as coping mechanisms for the emotional pain caused by her husband’s infidelity and his internalized homophobia.
Harper’s character symbolizes the isolation and repression experienced by women in patriarchal societies. Her fantasies and visions, including encounters with a mysterious travel agent, reflect her desire to escape the suffocating reality of her marriage and societal expectations. Despite her fragility, Harper exhibits a resilience that allows her to confront the truth about her husband and her own identity.
Throughout the play, Harper’s storyline intertwines with themes of spirituality and self-discovery. Her eventual realization of Joe’s homosexuality and her decision to leave him mark a turning point in her journey toward autonomy. Harper’s character serves as a poignant reminder of the human capacity for survival and the quest for meaning in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Harper Pitt’s narrative is one of both sorrow and liberation, offering a powerful exploration of identity, faith, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Belize
Belize, a central character in Angels in America, serves as a nurse, a friend, and a moral compass within the play. His sharp wit, sarcasm, and unapologetic honesty make him a standout figure, offering both comic relief and profound insight into the struggles of the characters around him.
As a former drag queen and a black gay man living in a society marked by racism, homophobia, and the AIDS crisis, Belize embodies resilience and strength. His role as a caregiver, particularly to Prior Walter, highlights his compassion and humanity. Belize’s ability to navigate the harsh realities of the world with both toughness and tenderness makes him a deeply relatable and admirable character.
Belize’s perspective as an outsider within multiple marginalized communities allows him to critique the systemic injustices and hypocrisies of 1980s America. His interactions with characters like Roy Cohn and Joe Pitt reveal his astute understanding of power dynamics and moral decay. Despite his own struggles, Belize remains a source of wisdom and support for those around him.
Through Belize, Kushner explores themes of identity, community, and the search for meaning in a fractured world. His character is a testament to the strength of marginalized individuals and the enduring power of love and solidarity in the face of adversity.
Hannah Pitt
Hannah Pitt, the mother of Joe Pitt, emerges as a complex and deeply human character in Angels in America. Initially portrayed as a rigid, traditional Mormon woman, Hannah undergoes a significant transformation when she leaves her Salt Lake City home to care for her son in New York. Her journey from a sheltered, religious upbringing to the chaotic and morally ambiguous world of 1980s Manhattan is both poignant and profound.
Hannah’s character represents the struggle to reconcile faith with reality, particularly in the face of her son’s homosexuality and the AIDS crisis. Despite her initial discomfort and judgment, she demonstrates remarkable resilience and adaptability. Her interactions with characters like Prior Walter and Belize reveal her capacity for growth and empathy, as she begins to question her beliefs and confront the complexities of human experience.
Hannah’s storyline explores themes of spirituality, family, and redemption. Her eventual acceptance of Joe’s identity and her willingness to support him, despite the challenges, highlight her deep love and maternal instincts. Through Hannah, Kushner examines the tension between tradition and progress, illustrating how individuals can evolve and find grace in unexpected ways.
Hannah Pitt’s transformation serves as a powerful metaphor for the broader societal shifts of the late 20th century, offering hope and a reminder of the human capacity for change and understanding.
The Angel
The Angel in Angels in America is a symbol of divine presence and cosmic authority, serving as a catalyst for the play’s exploration of spirituality and existential questions. This powerful, otherworldly being appears to Prior Walter, a man struggling with AIDS, delivering a prophetic message that thrusts him into a journey of self-discovery and divine purpose.
The Angel embodies both grace and terror, representing the duality of religious experience. Her visitations challenge Prior to embrace his role as a prophet, forcing him to confront his mortality and the meaning of his existence. The Angel’s demands, however, are fraught with ambiguity, leaving Prior to grapple with the nature of faith and divine will.
Through the Angel, Kushner critiques the notion of a distant, unresponsive God, highlighting the tension between cosmic indifference and human suffering. The character also serves as a metaphor for the search for meaning in a chaotic world, particularly during the AIDS crisis, when many felt abandoned by both society and the divine.
The Angel’s presence underscores the play’s themes of spirituality and existential inquiry, offering a complex and multifaceted exploration of faith, doubt, and the human condition. Her role in Prior’s journey is central, pushing him toward a deeper understanding of himself and the world around him.
Historical Context
The play is set during the late 1980s and early 1990s, a time marked by the AIDS epidemic and a politically charged climate under President Ronald Reagan. The era saw widespread discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals and a slow governmental response to the crisis, exacerbating societal tensions and personal struggles.
The AIDS Epidemic in the Late 80s/Early 90s
The late 1980s and early 1990s marked a devastating period for the LGBTQ+ community as the AIDS epidemic reached its peak. The disease, first identified in the early 1980s, spread rapidly, claiming countless lives and sparking widespread fear and stigma. During this time, medical understanding of HIV/AIDS was limited, and treatments were scarce, leaving those diagnosed with little hope. The epidemic disproportionately affected marginalized groups, including gay men, intravenous drug users, and communities of color, who often faced discrimination in accessing healthcare and social support.
The societal response to the crisis was further complicated by political and religious attitudes. Many conservative leaders, including President Ronald Reagan, were slow to address the epidemic, and when they did, it was often with reluctance or judgment. Religious institutions frequently framed AIDS as a moral failing, exacerbating the stigma and isolation experienced by those afflicted. This period also saw the rise of activism, as organizations like ACT UP emerged to demand action, better funding for research, and an end to discriminatory policies.
The emotional and theological struggles of this era are central to Angels in America, which portrays characters grappling with illness, guilt, and redemption. The play captures the anguish of watching loved ones suffer, the search for meaning in the face of mortality, and the resilience of communities fighting for justice and compassion amidst unimaginable loss.
The Political Climate of the Time
The late 1980s and early 1990s were marked by a conservative political shift in America, heavily influenced by the Reagan era. President Ronald Reagan’s administration championed policies that reflected traditional values, often at the expense of marginalized communities. This period saw a rise in religious conservatism, with political leaders frequently aligning themselves with evangelical movements. The Cold War mentality persisted, fostering a climate of fear and ideological polarization. Domestically, issues like homosexuality and AIDS were frequently politicized, with many conservative voices framing them as moral crises rather than public health concerns.
The play Angels in America critiques this political landscape, particularly the intersection of religion and governance. Characters like Joe Pitt, a Mormon Republican, embody the internal and external conflicts of reconciling personal identity with political ideology. The rise of figures like Roy Cohn, a ruthless lawyer and political operative, highlights the corruption and hypocrisy within the system. The play also explores the broader societal impact of these policies, such as the erosion of civil liberties and the marginalization of already vulnerable groups.
Through its portrayal of this era, Angels in America provides a scathing critique of the political climate, emphasizing the need for accountability and the importance of individual and collective resistance against oppressive systems. The play serves as both a historical reflection and a call to action, urging audiences to confront the legacy of these policies in contemporary America.