{"id":1554,"date":"2025-11-03T22:50:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T03:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/lgbtqlit\/?p=1554"},"modified":"2025-11-03T22:50:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T03:50:09","slug":"prior-and-harpers-human-connection-in-angels-in-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/lgbtqlit\/2025\/11\/03\/prior-and-harpers-human-connection-in-angels-in-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Prior and Harper’s Human Connection in Angels In America"},"content":{"rendered":"

One important theme presented in <\/span>Angels in America<\/span><\/i> is the significance of human connection, specifically the interconnection of the \u201coutsiders\u201d or identities who were excluded and repressed during the Reagan era. One claim I make in regard to this theme is that the human connection between the \u201coutsiders\u201d Prior and Harper emphasizes how the necessity for human empathy during tragedy transcends a society that tries to divide and repress them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During their mutual dream scene in act one scene seven, it is emphasized that Prior and Harper are outsiders of their respective identities because they don\u2019t fit into these specific molds. As a gay man with AIDS, Prior is alienated from both society and his relationship with his partner Louis due to the stigma of AIDS. Harper is alienated from her religion as she does not fit into the traditional expectations or gender roles due to her failing marriage with Joe and her addiction to Valium. Prior and Harper are able to connect by sharing their unique life experiences with each other in this private, shared space. For example, the two are able to joke with one another when Prior tells Harper his church does not believe in Mormons (Kusher, 32). While homosexuality is not typically accepted by the Mormon religion, Harper does not react negatively to Prior\u2019s identity but instead seems curious and wants to learn, especially in regard to Joe and his sexuality. Similarly, Prior does not judge Harper for her addiction but instead tries to understand her and sympathizes with her when revealing her husband\u2019s sexuality to her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In act three scene three, Prior and Harper meet in the Mormon Visitors Center\u2019s Diorama Room, connecting through the \u201cthreshold of revelation\u201d or the state of mind that reveals one\u2019s deepest and most painful truths. While it is terrifying to confront one\u2019s deepest fears, Prior and Harper have created a space that allows them to both confront their individual struggles and fears while recognizing their shared experiences and suffering, even if they have not had the same life experiences or beliefs. As \u201coutsiders\u201d in both society and their marginalized identities, Prior and Harper meet in unideal circumstances that creates a unique human connection that transcends the tragedy and society turmoil of the time period, allowing them to confront their individual struggles through their shared revelations, shared suffering, and human compassion. <\/span><\/p>\n



<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One important theme presented in Angels in America is the significance of human connection, specifically the interconnection of the \u201coutsiders\u201d or identities who were excluded and repressed during the Reagan era. One claim I make in regard to this theme is that the human connection between the \u201coutsiders\u201d Prior and Harper emphasizes how the necessity … Continue reading Prior and Harper’s Human Connection in Angels In America<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5723,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[344663],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fall-2025"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/lgbtqlit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/lgbtqlit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/lgbtqlit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/lgbtqlit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5723"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/lgbtqlit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1554"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/lgbtqlit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1554\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1555,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/lgbtqlit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1554\/revisions\/1555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/lgbtqlit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/lgbtqlit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/lgbtqlit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}