Angels in America

How do you understand the meaning of the angel in this play?

What is her role in the plays stream of conflicts? Discuss if the play contains any figurative angels or devils.

Asked by
Last updated by Aslan
Answers 1
Add Yours

Religion permeates the text. There are Mormons, atheists, and Jews; allusions to the Bible and spirituality abound. Kushner doesn't seem to advocate for a God in any traditional monotheistic way, but he is clearly a deeply spiritual person who acknowledges the weight of religious tradition and history. Religion helps people make sense of their existence and their identity; these traditions are deeply interwoven into the fabric of American history, culture, literature, and philosophy. Kushner suggests that the two main religions discussed in the text—Mormonism and Judaism—have similar themes and that tolerance of each is necessary in an ideal America. However, both of those religions also disapprove of homosexuality and are quite conservative in regard to gender. Religions like these need to evolve and embrace all forms of identity if they are to prove truly adaptable to the modern era, to a time when the world only spins forward.