Tony Kushner’s Angels in America is a story which manages to weave two opposites together in a number of ways. For one, the combination of humor, something so light, against the tragic reality of the AIDS crisis and the suffering in the character’s lives. Combining the two makes a much more enjoyable experience, even if it does occasionally tear your heart out, as all good things eventually do.
In particular, the first scene between Harper and Prior is where this begins in ernest. With one dreaming and one on a drug trip, both trying to cope with their lives. Their circumstances in life are anything but comedic. However, the way they speak to each other, for a moment, leaves behind their misery.
They aren’t anything alike from what they know in the instance when they first meet, but it becomes clearer that they aren’t as different as they could be, even turning to joke about it; Harper: It’s terrible. Mormons aren’t supposed to be addicted to anything. I’m a Mormon. / Prior: I’m a homosexual. / Harper: Oh! In my church, we don’t believe in homosexuals. / Prior: In my church, we don’t believe in mormons.” (Kushner, 32) Their way of handling each other is met with something much lighter than what might be expected from two people in seemingly opposing paths of life, but they don’t seem to have any issue at this moment.
They exist as two separate things, yet when looked at together, their struggles and joys merge into something that is easier to understand and see; a combination of their tragedy and comedy.
I really enjoyed how you explained the importance of having some comedy or joy in times of tragedy, especially in regard to Angels in America. Prior and Harper’s first meeting during the dream sequence in act one, scene seven, especially highlights this idea of comedy being necessary and the importance of human connections in times of tragedy. The human connection that is formed between Prior and Harper in this scene allows for a simple moment of joy and understanding between two people struggling in different ways during a tragic time.
I would also say that it’s easy for the two characters to make light of their situations because they have bigger issues to worry about. It really shows how this dream of theirs highlights the wanting of human connection. Despite coming from two different communities that would normally support each other, they both feel isolated. This reminded of Eli Claire’s focus on his experience with feeling isolated in some communities because he wanted to find places that would allow him to be himself. This dream that Prior and Harper share is that space where they feel this experience.
I agree that one cannot exist without the other tragedy and comedy compliment each other and can create more powerful undertones when used to support one another. Priors usage of comedy and sarcasm when dealing with his own tragedy sets an example of power and strength for him as a person to pursue even when faced with his situation. The way skits and theater plays with the placement of comedy and tragedy sets an overall tone of perception for it’s audience as well. What should be memorable, what should be sad, what should be glazed by melancholy, its an artistic choice by the author of wheat they wanted the perception of the situation to feel like.