Overdorf-Williams

 __ Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) __



=Life = = = -Born on March 26, 1911 to Cornelius and Edwina Dakin Williams -His original name was Thomas Lanier Williams -His father was abusive and favored his younger brother, and his sister was in and out of mental institutions. -Williams attended three Universities -Roman Catholic Cardinal Spellman blacklisted Williams in the 1960’s. -He was hospitalized for a year in 1969 because of his drug abuse. -His work was immoral and offended many Christians. -He died on February 23, 1983  =Important Work =  1. //Battle of Angels// (1940) -First play, poor reviews and censorship controversy //2. The Glass Menagerie// (1945) -Best known play //3. A streetcar named Desire// (1947) -Won a Pulitzer Prize -New York Film Critics Award // 4. ////The Rose Tattoo// (1951) -Three Donaldson Awards -One Tony Award //5. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof// (1955) -Won a Pulitzer Prize -694 performances //6. Clothes for a Summer Hotel// (1980) -Based on the lives of Fitzgerald and Zelda
 * -** Williams abused alcohol and drugs.
 * -** He had four successful Broadway plays, and it was said that many actors were made famous because of his plays

=Structure = William’s plays all had the same specific structure, which he described as the “Memory Play.” This format consists of three parts. 1. Part one is a profound experience by the character. 2. Part two is, in William’s words, “ an arrest in time.” Time repeats itself and loops around. 3. Part three consists of the character reliving the experience until he or she has learned from it. Williams claimed that the specific structure was to influence the “non-conformist individual.” His works focused on the conflicts between old southern values and new northern values, and worked in a setting with no cosmic laws.

Other Authors that wrote for the same reasons and similar styles are Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner, who are both associated with Williams. They fit into a genre called "Southern Gothic."

=Works Cited = "Biography: Tennessee Williams." //ETSU Home//. Web. 30 Apr. 2010. . "….more times than I Have Posted This Year. «." //Tongue In Check//. Web. 29 Apr. 2010. . "Tennessee Williams - About Tennessee Williams | American Masters." //PBS//. Web. 30 Apr. 2010. .