Have you ever wondered if there would be another writer as influential as Shakespeare? Some may say it is a poet or novelist, but others, such as author John Lahr, say its Tennessee Williams. Lahr claims that Williams is influential and expresses talent in his works and that he is, “The world’s greatest talent since Shakespeare” (Lahr). Like Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams will continue be a large and influential contribution to American theater and literature. Tennessee Williams influenced literature through the use of language, the use of personal experiences, and the use of real life situations.
Tennessee Williams’ language is considered to be the most literary of all dramatists, which he demonstrates through his characters. Williams’ poetic language and imagery shows playwrights and writers how the use of other forms of literature can affect the meaning of what the character is saying. Each character had a different personality and voice to be heard: “Williams uses their speech to emphasize their individuality” (Griffin). By expressing their individuality through their words and actions, the characters shape the outline of the play and add interesting detail. Williams used literature to bring out a new side of the character and actor. When playwrights use new forms of literature in their dramas, they show a different side of the American cinema. Williams’ dramatic skills are evident in the characterization of the characters and the actions between characters. His characters were made convincing to keep his audience intrigued. The songs and unique poetic wording of today’s plays are modeled by the convincing characters of the old theater, including those belonging to Tennessee Williams.
His strong poetic language influences later dramas and his plays are therefore seen as American Classics. Tennessee did not create poetic plays, but rather his plays used dramatic poetry. “David Mamet describes Williams’ plays as ‘the greatest dramatic poetry in the American language’” (Griffin). The use of his dramatic poetry added more context and drama into his plays. When writers today add dramatic lines into their works, the audience is more intrigued to keep reading the book or watching the play. The strong use of dramatic literature is seen today in plays such as Aladdin. Like Williams, the playwright used dramatic phrases to shape the characters and play overall. The literature of one playwright might go along with the literature of another. When playwrights combine their own view of the American cinema with the view of someone such as Tennessee Williams, their plays can change the audience’s perspective. The original productions of Williams’ plays were the most influential because the first showing of a new style and production. These styles were seen though his strong wording and new techniques. “The original production of [The Glass] Menagerie and of his subsequent major plays…led to misunderstanding and even attacks on his method…” (Griffin). Critics did not realize how these new techniques would shape the American theater in the future, such as the 21st century. They disagreed with Williams’ new literature. This literature would later shape the overall of the American theater.
Williams’ use of personal experiences influence his own characters, and influences other playwrights to do the same. Williams’ family influences his characters in his plays, some of which are seen as plays that shaped the theater. Author Bill Hill says that, “Williams used his own experience to generate artistic masterpieces” (Hill). These masterpieces helped to influence future playwrights or current playwrights of the century. By using his experience, Williams was able to create a new world for his characters and those in the audience. He used his surrounding friends and family as themes for characters in multiple plays. Hill also says that, “Williams’ family served as an important influence throughout his life and works” (Hill). His family’s actions led to his successful career. When playwrights use their own experiences, not only do they show the audience their story, but they also demonstrate the story and actions of people just like them. Williams and other playwright’s use their past to influence the audience with a new perspective on life.
Williams’ plays that reflected on his past are a reference for other American playwrights to use similar concepts in their dramas. He used the attitude of his father, an industrial worker, and the southern lifestyle of his mother’s family in his artwork. Williams’ sister Rose was a large influence in his life. Rose was close to him and looked up to him: “Her struggles with mental illness…were a theme that reappeared often in the playwright’s work” (Plimpton). His sister was an inspiration for a character in one of his most famous plays, The Glass Menagerie. She modeled the character that the play had been shaped around. His family relations are seen throughout his dramas, for example in the plays Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Glass Menagerie. His father’s tone and sister’s quite actions were a large influence in both of these plays. Playwrights today use their own personal thoughts and background rather than their imagination for plays. By using their personal memories, these new playwrights can make a large impact on the American theater, just as Tennessee Williams did.
Williams used the situations and problems going on in America at the time to influence the setting and actions in his plays, which encouraged others to do the same. His plays informed others of the situations taking place in society or in our American history. This is used by many writers today. The characters in his plays were formed from life situations and used to create the imaginative plays. For example, he portrayed a devastating view of the prejudices and racial discrimination in the south, particularly Louisiana. One play that showed the wrong doing of Americans was A Streetcar Named Desire. “Streetcar served as a somewhat monumental contribution to American theater… and served simply to reflect American habits and motivation” (Hill). Williams changed the nation’s sense of itself and the level of discrimination. Plays today such as Hamilton, show the racial discrimination of the past and present times. Multiple works belonging to Tennessee Williams allow American cultures and values to combine together freely. His works showed other playwrights how to include present day situations in their own writings.
Williams’ dramas not only showed the good in American culture, but he also used current situations to criticize the way Americans were acting, which inspired many writers. He demonstrated the American society, which tried to silence the actions and stories they thought were wrong. His plays revealed a social purpose, to acknowledge economic realities, for, “At his best, Williams pinned down America at its worst” (Billington). He was not afraid to be foremost with the American society about their actions. Tennessee Williams had his own thoughts on the American actions, but most importantly he criticized its stress on appearances and materialism. “His criticism of American culture with its emphasis on appearances and materialism are still powerfully recorded” (Levy). Criticism is a theme that is followed by many playwrights. It is used to express the disapproval of America’s ways of life. Criticism of the American actions or culture can bring a new perspective on life, which may need to be seen through the actions of someone else. These playwrights, including Tennessee Williams, showed society their actions and what is really going on outside of their own world. Williams and other playwrights have given the audience eyes to see the mistakes going on in real life.
Through his use of real life situations, personal experiences, and language, Tennessee Williams left a unique but significant mark on American dramas and influenced the future generations of writers. Williams’ plays and unique takes on American cinema are an inspiration to American playwrights and writers. His different techniques may have been criticized then, but are enjoyed today. Tennessee Williams changed American literature for generations yet to come.
