-Born Thomas Lanier
Williams, March 26, 1911 to February 25, 1983.
Early Life
Born to
Cornelius and Edwina Williams
The
middle child of older sister Rose and younger brother Dakin
Spent
his first 10 years in rural
His
shoe salesman father moved the family to urban
1928 he
traveled to
1929
It was
at the U of Missouri that
Cornelius
withdrew him a few months later
His Prime
Attended
College during the Great Depression
Spent
years traveling the country and writing
In 1944
The
1940s and 1950s were the height of
The
1960s hit
His
life partner Frank Merlo passed away from cancer
The
critics were very harsh when reviewing his work
Williams
began to depend on drugs and alcohol
Later Years
Williams
was opposed to the Vietnam War and participated in anti war protests but was
upset by Norman Mailers anti-war play Why We Are in Vietnam
In 1975
Williams published his memoirs entitled Memoirs
In this
text Williams used stream of consciousness to describe his life
Williams
detailed his use of alcohol and drugs and talked about his homosexuality
In 1982
Williams wrote his last play A House Not Meant to Stand
On
February 25, 1983 Williams was found dead in a
Common Theme in
His Works
Loneliness
Social
Isolation
Conflict
between repression and release
Major Works
The
Glass Menagerie, 1945
A Streetcar Named Desire, 1947
Summer
and Smoke, 1948
The Rose
Tattoo, 1951
Cat
on a Hot Tin Roof, 1955
Sweet
Bird of Youth, 1959
A
Night of the Iguana, 1961