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  • Essay / Tony Kushner's Angels in America: The Consequences of Following Ideals

    There are various factors that work together to encourage people to change. Tony Kushner portrays a character's behavior that underlies the consequences of homosexuality and religion. ​Angels In America: a Gay Fantasia on National Themes​ is a two-part play with a strong emphasis on the values ​​and morals that inspire change. Kushner discusses aspects of religious and personal values ​​and whether they have certain meaning or lead to difficulties. This essay discusses the potential standard of questionable values ​​proposed in Joe Pitt and Roy Cohn's play. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay. Kushner implies that for those who obey religious ideals, the norms serve as guidelines. He makes this point with Joe. A Mormon who used religious standards to combat the “bad or ugly” (Kushner 40) and adjusted his behavior to appear “decent” and “proper.” Later, Joe also talks about a photograph in which "Jacob wrestles with the angel." Kushner brings this up to indicate that Jacob is Joe's projection. Fighting the flesh that does not adhere to its religious ideals. Joe goes on to say that "losing means your soul is cast into the dust, your heart torn from God's", meaning that losing or, in other words, being tempted goes against his ideals. Kushner argues that while religious values ​​help people find the right way to live happier lives, they provide a kind of road map. However, he suggests that these same individuals who meet these religious standards of perfection are the most susceptible to temptation and change, leading them to live miserable lives. Kushner illustrates this very closely with Joe who followed these exact ideals and although he is a respectable man, he is not happy. “I graduated fourth in my class and make less than anyone I know.” Joe who has worked extremely hard and done everything it takes to get to where he is now, but he is not happy because he feels like he is missing a big part of his life. Joe's internal struggles over what is wrong inside are shown: "No matter how bad or ugly this thing is, as long as I fight, with everything I have, I must kill it." .As long as my behavior is what I know. must be”. Kushner's specific use of words suggests that he is fighting the "evil" within himself, but only because of the religious ideals that dictate he do so. Joe seems to be hiding the fact that he is gay. When his wife Harper asks him, he responds, "What if I... No, I'm not." I don't see what difference it makes. » This is an ongoing problem with his wife Harper. The struggle to repress his sexuality reveals verbal conflicts with his wife and mother. Kushner provides an example of how religious principles not only lead to challenges in a person's way of living, but also to struggles and difficulties for others around the individual. Additionally, Kushner encourages the consideration of highly desirable personal goals. He introduced this concept with Roy Cohn. Roy, who is a character in the play but served in the Regan administration in the '80s, was also a real person. Despite being extremely homophobic and knowingly working under a homophobic administration. Roy Cohn was a closeted homosexual and died of AIDS. Roy shares the view that politics is one of the determining factors that affect allaspects of religion and homosexuality. In explaining his intentions to Joe, Roy suggests that relying on him alone is the great amount of power he has acquired: "Learn at least this: what you are capable of." Let nothing hinder you.” Roy advises getting rid of everything that holds him back is essential to achieving his power goals, expressing that: "Life is full of horrors: no one escapes them, no one: run away from everything that attracts you , of everything that needs you, threatens you. . Do not be afraid; people are so scared; don't be afraid. Roy is both completely accurate and irrelevant. He is correct in his interpretation of the specific tragedies of American life in the 1980s. Roy gained wealth and power, but only at the expense of certain elements of his identity. Roy is aware that he is out of the spotlight after being diagnosed with AIDS and falling ill, and that all of his "colleagues" have disappeared with his true power. He is courageous in his ability to face this. However, in his advice to Joe, he encourages intense selfishness. Roy believes that a person simply needs to take care of themselves and be alone rather than connected to others. This unreasonable attitude of individualism at all costs characterized much of the 1980s and is part of the overall decline of the social network, the government security network, and the community. Kushner deliberately reveals Roy's understanding of the world in the scene where Roy confronts his doctor. Roy explains that he has no interaction with other gay men since he sits to the right of the president and his wife. Values ​​such as love, honor and trust are irrelevant from Roy's point of view. All human relationships can be measured by favors granted. Roy believes that since he occupies a social position that gives him power, he cannot be called homosexual. “Now, for anyone who doesn't understand this, I'm gay because I have sex with men. But that's really not true. Homosexuals are not men who sleep with other men. Homosexuals are men who, after fifteen years of efforts, cannot get the city council to adopt a piss-poor anti-discrimination bill. Homosexuals are men who know no one and whom no one knows. Who have no influence. This quote shows how homosexuals are generally viewed by American society. Homosexuals were not even considered human beings to the general population, they were seen as insignificant or indicators of morally corrupt behavior. They were human beings who had no power or influence and who were ignored or looked down upon by those around them. Because of this indifference, hatred and discrimination, Kushner acknowledges that homosexuals often have to live on the margins of society or choose to remain hidden, fearing the reaction of those around them. Roy wants nothing to do with this and refuses to fully accept his identity. In addition, Roy displays a strong masculine character with “weight”. He claims he is a strong and powerful man. The concept of how a man will behave with strength, confidence and fearlessness. As a politician, Roy tries to live up to what society thinks a strong man should be and how he should act. Roy refuses to admit that he has AIDS and is gay when informed by his doctor's description. Roy tells his doctor, "You think these are the names that tell you who someone is sleeping with, but they don't tell you." He claims his identity is not homosexual due to their lack., 2017.