"Marcharei no papel!"
A política de Tennessee Williams
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12773128Keywords:
Posicionamento político, Dramaturgia estadunidense, Biografia, Political positioning, American drama, BiographyAbstract
O artigo explora as dimensões políticas na obra de Tennessee Williams, elucidando como dinâmicas sociais e de poder podem ser encontradas em suas composições literárias, com especial atenção às suas produções teatrais. Apesar de não ser considerado hegemonicamente um escritor político, os valores e as crenças de Williams estão evidentes em sua vida privada e pública. Criado em uma família democrata no Sul, votou no candidato socialista em 1932, identificando-se com o socialismo ao longo da vida. Renomado dramaturgo, Williams teve vários envolvimentos políticos durante sua carreira. Mesmo sem afiliações políticas claras, expressou afinidade com a boemia. Após o sucesso, continuou criticando os Estados Unidos do pós-guerra, a corrupção e o racismo no Sul. Evitando abordagens diretas, preferiu a complexidade, destacando a ambiguidade nas relações humanas e incorporando nuances políticas em suas obras.
Abstract
The article explores the political dimensions in Tennessee Williams’s body of work, elucidating how social and power dynamics can be found in his literary compositions, with special attention to his theatrical productions. Although not overwhelmingly considered a political writer, Williams’s values and beliefs are evident in his private and public life. Raised in a Southern Democratic family, he voted for the socialist candidate in 1932, identifying with socialism throughout his life. A renowned playwright, Williams had various political involvements during his career. Instead of clear political affiliations, he expressed an affinity for bohemia. After achieving success, he continued to criticize post-war United States, corruption, and racism in the South. Avoiding direct approaches, he preferred complexity, emphasizing ambiguity in human relationships and incorporating political nuances into his works.
References
AFFIDAVIT re Julian and Judith Malina Beck. Julian Beck Collection 1937-1958, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas, Austin, Ms. Collection MS-0296, box 3, folder 8, 1964.
BARAKA, Amiri. Tennessee Williams is never apolitical. In: KAPLAN, David (Ed.). Tenn at 100: the reputation of Tennessee Williams. East Brunswick, NJ: Hansen Publishing Group, 2011a. p. 280-285.
BARAKA, Amiri. What Williams means to me. American Theatre, v. 28, n. 7, p. 40, September 2011b.
BERKVIST, Robert. An interview with Tennessee Williams. New York Times, Book Review, p. 1, 4-5, 21 December, 1975.
BRUSTEIN, Robert. Why American plays aren’t literature. The Gateway, Omaha, Nebraska, p. 4, 18 March, 1960.
CBS NEWS. Weekend program. Remember the War. Reporter Tom Headley: broadcast. January 30, 1972.
CLURMAN, Harold. Theater, Camino Real. The Nation, p. 293-294, 4 April, 1953.
DEVLIN, Albert J. (Ed.). Interview with Walter Wagner, 1967. In: Conversations with Tennessee Williams. Jackson and London: University of Mississippi Press, 1986. p. 124-133.
DEVLIN, Albert J. (Ed.). Playboy interview with C. Robert Jennings, 1973. In: Conversations with Tennessee Williams. Jackson and London: University of Mississippi Press, 1986. p. 69-84.
DEVLIN, Albert J. (Ed.). ‘Williams on Williams’ Lewis Funke and John E. Booth, 1962. In: Conversations with Tennessee Williams. Jackson and London: University of Mississippi Press, 1986. p. 98.
HAN, Yousueng; DEMIRCIOGLU, Mehmet Akif (2016). Accountability, politics, and power. In: FARAZMAND, A. (Ed.). Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance. (Springer, Cham.). Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_2453-2. Acesso em: 30 ago. 2023.
HARTMAN, Donna. Tennessee Williams looks for the violets, The Transcript, North Adams, Massachusetts, 30 June 1982.
HYNDS, Reed. Candles to the sun carries validity and power. St. Louis Star and Times, p. 23, 19 March, 1937.
ISHERWOOD, Charles. Not about nightingales. Variety, 28 November, 1999.
JONES, Will. Streetcar rolls into new form. Star Tribune, Minneapolis, p. 30, 29 Aug. 1958.
KAHN, Sy. The Red Devil Battery sign: Williams’ Gotterdammerung in Vienna. In: THARPE, Jac. Tennessee Williams: a tribute. Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi, 1977. p. 362-371.
KAZAN, Elia. A life. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1988.
LAHR, John. Mad pilgrimage of the flesh. New York: W. W. Norton, 2014.
LEVERICH, Lyle, Tom: the unknown Tennessee Williams. New York; London: W. W. Norton, 1995. p. 136-137.
MacPHERSON, Colvin. Mummers present play by St. Louisan. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, p. 31, 19 March 1937.
MITCHELL, Tom. Tennessee Williams and the Mummers of St. Louis: The Birth of a Playwright. The Tennessee Williams Annual Review, n. 10, p. 91-104, 2009. Disponível em: https://tennesseewilliamsstudies.org/journal/work.php?ID=94. Acesso em: 12 dez. 2023.
SMITH, William Jay. My friend Tom. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2012.
TENNESSEE Williams meets the San Francisco Press. TRT: 26:50. San Francisco: Pacifica Radio Archive, Archive Nmber AZ184, Recorded and Broadcast, 1976.
THE ALABAMA TRIBUNE. Battle against Theatre Jim Crow. Montgomery, p. 7, 14 February 1947.
THE BOSTON GLOBE, p. 129, 25 Dec. 1982.
WARREN, Edna. Laughing last at Hollywood. St. Louis Globe-Democrat, p. 40, 31 May 1936.
WILLIAMS, Tennessee. Camino Real. Introduction by John Guare. New York: New Directions, 2008a.
WILLIAMS, Tennessee. Fugitive kind. Edited, with an introduction, by Allean Hale. New Directions: New York, 2001.
WILLIAMS, Tennessee. Notebooks. Edited by Margaret Bradham Thornton. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006.
WILLIAMS, Tennessee. Notes on play and production. Unpublished fragment circa 1942. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin, n.d.
WILLIAMS, Tennessee. Orpheus descending and Suddenly last summer. Introduction by Martin Sherman. New Directions: New York, 2012.
WILLIAMS, Tennessee. Something Wild . . . , In: WILLIAMS, Tennessee. New selected essays: where I live. Edited by John S. Bak New York: New Directions, 2009.
WILLIAMS, Tennessee. Stairs to the roof. Edited, with an introduction, by Allean Hale. New Directions: New York, 2000a.
WILLIAMS, Tennessee. Sweet bird of youth. Introduction by Lanford Wilson. New Directions: New York, 2008b.
WILLIAMS, Tennessee. LAUGHLIN, James. The luck of friendship: letters of Tennessee Williams and James Laughlin. Edited by Peggy L. Fox and Thomas Keith. New York: W. W. Norton, 2018.
WILLIAMS, Tennessee. The selected letters of Tennessee Williams – volume I, 1920-1945. Edited by Albert J. Devlin and Nancy M. Tischler. New York: New Directions, 2000b.
WILLIAMS, Tennessee. The selected letters of Tennessee Williams – volume II, 1945-1957. Edited by Albert J. Devlin and Nancy M. Tischler. New York: New Directions, 2004.
WILLIAMS, Tennessee. The traveling companion & other plays. Edited by Annette J. Saddik. New York: New Directions, 2008c.
