Joseph's American Dream In Langston Hughes Angels In America

In Langston Hughes’ poem “Harlem”, Hughes asks whether the dream deferred explodes or not. In “Angels in America”, Tony Kushner explores the exploding dream through the character of Joseph Porter Pitt as he struggles to cope with his suppressed, but surfacing homosexuality, while also balancing his own societal and religious perspectives. Joseph’s relationships are full of bandages that cover up pieces to his own unsuppressed American dream that has been concealed from actuality since he was a child. Being a raised a Mormon, Joseph was conditioned to believe that homosexuality is a violation and that it is not accepted. Consequently, Joseph’s dreams have been repressed deep into his mind and covered with conservative opinions, a fraudulent

Joseph’s altered values have essentially altered his vision of an American dream. He doesn’t want to just be a gay man with dreams of having a nice life, he dreams of being a gay man with conservative values in a country and time where many conservatives bashed homosexuality and ignored it even existed. Joseph’s dream explodes violently throughout the play both internally and externally which leads to his overall disappearance from the end of the play. His disappearance represents the idea that Joseph has blended back into society and will never come to terms with his true dreams. Furthermore, Joseph Porter Pitt’s character in “Angels in America” challenges the idea that dreams can be fully realized after they have been suppressed for an entire life, and in doing so leaves behind fragment personas that are in conflict with each

He is the one who influences Joseph to come out of the closet and be himself finally. It is Louis, who allows Joseph to get as close to his American dream as possible, yet ir is still very far away. Joseph’s comfortness and dependence on Louis forces him to attempt to decide what he is doing with his life. When Louis is about to leave Joseph, Joseph tells him “I’m so… afraid of that. Of things I never knew I’d ever be afraid of, things I didn't even know existed until we-- I’m afraid, now, maybe for the first time, really… I’m scared” (206). Joseph’s fear is a symbol of uncertainty and confusion that he feels as he confronts his suppressed feelings. All his life he has dedicated himself to things that are against what he truthfully is and now he is coming out finally. He is overwhelmed in fear of the feelings he is feeling as well as the prompt actions that he is committing. Religion has taught Joseph to fear sinning and to ultimately fear himself. Presumably, Joseph is afraid of himself and his own homosexuality. He wears the Temple Garments out of angst and he fears taking them off. He tells Louis that he wears the Temple Garments as “Protection. A second skin. I can stop wearing it if you--” (201). This second skin is a psychical layer that helps hide Joseph from himself. The rest of his facades are not physically, but the Temple Garment is more of symbol. They help