This is an excerpt from Angels in America, a play by Tony Kushner
JOE: I'm tired, I'm going to bed.
HARPER: Tell me without making me ask. Please.
JOE: This is crazy, I'm not . . .
HARPER: When you come through the door at night your face is never exactly the way I remembered it. I get surprised by something . . . mean and hard about the way you look. Even the weight of you in the bed at night, the way you breathe in your sleep seems unfamiliar. You terrify me.
JOE (Cold): I know who you are.
HARPER: Yes. I'm the enemy. That's easy. That doesn't change. You think you're the only one who hates sex; I do; I hate it with you; I do. I dream that you batter away at me till all my joints come apart, like wax, and I fall into pieces. It's like a punishment. It was wrong of me to marry you. I knew you . . . (She stops herself) It's a sin, and it's killing us both.
JOE: I can always tell when you've taken pills because it makes you red-faced and sweaty and frankly that's very often why I don't want to . . .
HARPER: Because . . .
JOE: Well, you aren't pretty. Not like this.
HARPER: I have something to ask you.
JOE: Then ASK! ASK! What in hell are you . . .
HARPER: Are you a homo? (Pause) Are you? If you try to walk out right now I'll put your dinner back in the oven and turn it up so high the whole building will fill with smoke and everyone in it will as- phyxiate. So help me God I will. Now answer the question.
JOE: What if I . . .
HARPER: Then tell me, please. And we'll see.
JOE: NO. I'm not. I don't see what difference it makes.
A beat
JOE: I think we ought to pray. Ask God for help. Ask him together . . .
HARPER: God won't talk to me. I have to make up people to talk to me.
JOE: You have to keep asking.
HARPER: I forgot the question. Oh yeah. God, is my husband a . . .
JOE (Scary): Stop it. Stop it. I'm warning you. Does it make any difference? That I might be one thing deep within, no matter how wrong or ugly that thing is, so long as I have fought, with everything I have, to kill it. What do you want from me? What do you want from me, Harper? More than that? For God's sake, there's nothing left, I'm a shell. There's nothing left to kill. As long as my behavior is what I know it has to be. Decent. Correct. That alone in the eyes of God.
HARPER: NO, no, not that, that's Utah talk, Mormon talk, I hate it, Joe, tell me, say it . . .
JOE: All I will say is that I am a very good man who has worked very hard to become good and you want to destroy that. You want to destroy me, but I am not going to let you do that.
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How is the dialogue used to reveal the character of Joe?
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Dialogue plays a key role in revealing a character’s internal conflict. In Angels in America, playwright Tony Kushner explores Joe’s internal conflict through his dialogue with his wife Harper. Through the use of dialogue, Kushner explores various facets of Joe’s character pertaining to his struggles with keeping marriage intact and as someone who must come to terms with who he is in terms of his sexuality.
Consider the following exchange as the tension between the two characters starts to heighten as Harper states, “I have something to ask you,” to which Joe exclaims, “Then ASK! ASK! What in hell are you.” Here Kushner’s repetition of the word “ASK” and the fact that it is meant to be shouted serves to capture the intensity of the frustration that has been built up within Joe as he aims to avoid having to answer any of his wife’s questions that might cause him to lose his social status as a respected, decent man who has a loving life. Note how his fear over the uncertainty of coming out manifested itself as Harper presses him: “Are you a homo? Are you?” Joe’s reply as he utters, “What if I….” speaks volumes about his internal conflict. The fact that there’s such few words in Joe’s reply here serves to bring out the power of the lines that must be read between. By asking “what if,” Joe shows that he is thinking about coming out but is just not sure about it because of the implications and consequences of doing so. In this manner, Kusher uses repetition and a laconic reply to accentuate Joe’s conflict where he struggles to find out the best way to deal with his situation.
His struggle is more pronounced when he utters, “No. I’m not. I don’t see what difference it makes,” in response to Harper’s urging as she states, “Then tell me, please. And we'll see.” Note how there’s a hint of compassion on Harper’s part as she does not definitively state that she will end her marriage to Joe if Joe comes out. It’s not certain here whether she will reveal Joe’s secret to the world. What can be inferred here? Perhaps because she feels that it’s necessary to gauge Joe’s sincerity before deciding what to do. If she determines that Joe indeed is sincere, we may reasonably speculate that she might actually have compassion for Joe and keep the matter a secret. In this respect, Joe’s response, which articulates his denial of being gay, is indicative of his need to keep his situation under control; clearly he’s not willing to take any risks that could potentially jeopardize his social standing. So the emotional swing that’s captured in this dialogue highlights Joe's internal conflict between his desire to maintain his facade of respectability and his fear of the consequences of coming out. His denial signals his firm belief that he won’t let a moment of hesitation or weaknesses have any impact on the reputation he’s built as a decent man. In this fashion, Kushner incorporates a highly emotionally charged exchange that sets up for Joe's swift denial and deflection of questions pertaining to sexuality, thus illustrating his deep-seated fear of societal judgment and rejection, compelling him to cling to his constructed identity at all costs while battling his inner turmoil.
Kushner further depicts Joe’s conflict as it comes to a head when Joe states, “no matter how wrong or ugly that thing is, so long as I have fought, with everything I have, to kill it.” The emphatic language here as evidenced by the phrase “i have fought ….to kill it” and his perception of his sexual identity in calling it “wrong or ugly” further underscores Joe's internal dilemma. The intensity of his language reflects the depth of his struggle to suppress his true self and conform to societal norms. By characterizing his sexuality as "wrong or ugly," Joe reveals the internalized shame and self-loathing that accompany his denial. Joe’s adherence to social norms is further revealed as he states, “As long as my behavior is what I know it has to be. Decent. Correct. That alone in the eyes of God.” The depth of his moral quandary is laid bare by the use of the words “decent” and “correct,” which imply that deviating from socially accepted norms of sexuality would be viewed as immoral or unacceptable in the eyes of both society and a higher power. This highlights the profound conflict between Joe's innate desires and his adherence to external standards of morality. Such adherence and the emotions entailed are captured in the following: “All I will say is that I am a very good man who has worked very hard to become good and you want to destroy that. You want to destroy me, but I am not going to let you do that.” The word “good” is noteworthy in conveying Joe’s obsession with protecting his reputation and maintaining his outward appearance of morality and respectability. In this manner, Kushner uses diction in these statements to
bring our attention to the effort Joe has invested in upholding societal norms and suppressing his true identity, thus encapsulating Joe’s profound emotional turmoil.
As examined, in "Angels in America," Tony Kushner skillfully uses dialogue to reveal Joe's inner conflict. Through tense exchanges with his wife Harper, Joe's struggle to maintain his marriage and suppress his true sexuality comes to the forefront. Kushner employs repetition and concise language to highlight Joe's fear of exposure and internal turmoil. Joe's denial of his sexuality and emphasis on societal norms underscore his internal struggle. In crafting Joe's dialogue, Kushner navigates themes of identity, morality, and societal pressure while portraying the accompanying emotional landscape, thus providing a profound insight into the human condition. Through Joe's internal conflict, Kushner explores the complexities of societal expectations and personal authenticity, highlighting the universal struggle between conformity and self-acceptance. self-discovery and acceptance in his journey to self-discovery.
Criteria | Mark | Feedback |
A: Understanding &
Interpretation | 5 | Your analysis demonstrates a highly nuanced understanding of the internal conflict experienced by Joe in "Angels in America" and how dialogue serves to reveal this conflict. You effectively dissect specific lines of dialogue to extract meaning and insight into Joe's character and his struggle with his sexuality and societal expectations. |
B: Analysis & Evaluation | 5 | Your analysis is thorough, breaking down various exchanges between Joe and Harper to illustrate Joe's internal conflict. You analyze the repetition, tone, and emotional intensity of the dialogue, providing insightful commentary on how these elements contribute to character development and thematic exploration. Additionally, you evaluate the implications of Joe's responses and Harper's reactions, offering thoughtful interpretations of their dynamic and its significance within the play. |
C: Coherence, Focus, & Organization | 5 | Your essay is well-organized, with clear progression from analyzing specific dialogue exchanges to drawing broader conclusions about Kushner's use of dialogue to reveal Joe's internal conflict. Each paragraph builds upon the previous one, contributing to a cohesive argument. However, there are instances where the transitions between ideas could be smoother to enhance coherence further. |
D: Language | 5 | Your language is articulate and sophisticated, effectively conveying your ideas and insights. You demonstrate a strong command of vocabulary and sentence structure, which enhances the clarity and persuasiveness of your analysis. Moreover, you skillfully incorporate quotations from the play to support your points and provide evidence for your interpretations. |
20 / 20 |