Tennessee Williams

Monday, April 6, 2009

Born Thomas Lanier Williams in Columbus, Mississippi on March 26, 1911. Abusive traveling salesman father and smothering genteel mother.

Spent two years bedridden as a child with paralysis caused by diphtheria.

Attended high school in Universal City, Missouri

Monday, April 6, 2009

At University of Missouri his fraternity brothers gave him the name “Tennessee” because of his accent.

Earned degree from University of Iowa in 1938

Moved to New Orleans to work for WPA

Monday, April 6, 2009

Began writing Streetcar Named Desire while living in New Orleans and completed it while living in Key West, Florida.

Williams’ sister Rose was diagnosed with schizophrenia and institutionalized. Williams never forgave his parents for having her lobotomized. He lived with the fear that he would share her fate.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Rose seems mirrored in some of Williams’ “mad heroines”: Blanche DuBois in Streetcar Named Desire and Laura Wingfield in The Glass Menagarie.

He won Pulitizer Prizes for A Streetcar Named Desire (1948) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955); New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for The Glass Menagerie (1945) and The Night of the Iguana (1961); a best play Tony Award for The Rose Tatoo (1952)

Monday, April 6, 2009

Williams was an alcoholic who fought terrible bouts of depression and depended on amphetamines and barbiturates.

Long standing relationship with Frank Merlo (1947-1963) created stability that helped Williams create his most enduring work.

Died on March 3, 1983 after choking on an eyedrop bottle cap.

Monday, April 6, 2009