"Mendacity" in Four Plays of Tennessee Williams

Abstract

<p>The thesis explores one aspect of Tennessee Williams' moral vision -- his concern with the "mendacity" which he sees pervading our society and his conviction that, whereas one cannot endure a life bereft of illusion, man can approach full humanity, effectively deny his incompletion, by a never-ending effort to confront truth within himself and in communication with others. A chapter is given to the study of each play. The four plays discussed are chronologically ordered: A Streetcar Named Desire, 1947; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 1955; Suddenly Last Summer, 1958; Small Craft Warnings, 1972. Passing references are made to the earlier poetry, short plays, and short stories in an effort to make clear that Williams' work has a peculiarly consistent moral centre. Similarly, an attempt is made to interconnect the single-play chapters by making comparisons and drawing parallels between the plays as the study progresses. In the Conclusion some tentative statements are made regarding Williams' persistent world-view and his contribution to a theatre concerned with its ethical function.</p>