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Tennessee Williams
(March 26 1911 - February 25 1983)
Born as Thomas Lanier Williams but best known by his pen name Tennessee
Williams was an American playwright and screenwriter. He is considered
one of the most important American playwright of th:e 20th century drama.
A unique talent who survived a difficult childhood that defined him and his
work. Tennessee suffered an almost lethal attack from tuberculosis at a very
young age that had him bedridden for almost two years. During these years
he relied heavily on his mother’s and his grandmother’s care. He became
very attached to them. His father had a violent temper and was not there for
him to say the least. He had no strong male figure to model himself after.
Since he didn’t turn into a macho figure, he was bullied in school and by his
own father at home. Unable to deal with the bullying and the hostile
environment of family falling apart, he found refuge in writing. While he was
still in college, he started taking part and even winning some literary
contests. That gave him the confidence to pursue his luck as a writer and
moved out from his family home to a house in New Orleans - an all time’s
favourite for Tom. By then his beloved sister had already been committed to
psychiatric clinic. He was there for her and when he became financially able
he managed to provide her with the best care possible. In New Orleans he
met with the right agent, who sent him to New York, where he started
flourishing as an artist. His first big success was the highly autobiographical
“The Glass Menagerie” in 1944. Yet his reputation as a great playwright was
secured by his next successful Broadway plays “A Streetcar Named Desire”
(1947), “The Rose Tattoo” (1951), and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” (1955) that
were turned into films as well.
He wrote numerous plays and screenplays, and even though his writing was
sometimes affected by his personal struggles with mental health and
substance abuse he remained very productive even until the end of his life in
1983.
Timeline
Birth in Mississippi in 1911
unhappy family life, poor physical health,
absusive father, refugee in the caring figures of
his mother, grandmother and sister.
facing the demands of adult life, rejection of the
9-5 type of work, struggling with confidence as
an artist
moving to New Orleans, finding his personal
voice as a writer, exploring his sexual identity,
travelling the world,
experiencing love and loss, fame and success,
dealing with mental health and substance abuse
Death in New York in 1983
Tennessee Williams
(March 26 1911 - February 25 1983)
Born as Thomas Lanier Williams but best known by his pen name Tennessee
Williams was an American playwright and screenwriter. He is considered
one of the most important American playwright of th:e 20th century drama.
A unique talent who survived a difficult childhood that defined him and his
work. Tennessee suffered an almost lethal attack from tuberculosis at a very
young age that had him bedridden for almost two years. During these years
he relied heavily on his mother’s and his grandmother’s care. He became
very attached to them. His father had a violent temper and was not there for
him to say the least. He had no strong male figure to model himself after.
Since he didn’t turn into a macho figure, he was bullied in school and by his
own father at home. Unable to deal with the bullying and the hostile
environment of family falling apart, he found refuge in writing. While he was
still in college, he started taking part and even winning some literary
contests. That gave him the confidence to pursue his luck as a writer and
moved out from his family home to a house in New Orleans - an all time’s
favourite for Tom. By then his beloved sister had already been committed to
psychiatric clinic. He was there for her and when he became financially able
he managed to provide her with the best care possible. In New Orleans he
met with the right agent, who sent him to New York, where he started
flourishing as an artist. His first big success was the highly autobiographical
“The Glass Menagerie” in 1944. Yet his reputation as a great playwright was
secured by his next successful Broadway plays “A Streetcar Named Desire”
(1947), “The Rose Tattoo” (1951), and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” (1955) that
were turned into films as well.
He wrote numerous plays and screenplays, and even though his writing was
sometimes affected by his personal struggles with mental health and
substance abuse he remained very productive even until the end of his life in
1983.
Timeline
Birth in Mississippi in 1911
unhappy family life, poor physical health,
absusive father, refugee in the caring figures of
his mother, grandmother and sister.
facing the demands of adult life, rejection of the
9-5 type of work, struggling with confidence as
an artist
moving to New Orleans, finding his personal
voice as a writer, exploring his sexual identity,
travelling the world,
experiencing love and loss, fame and success,
dealing with mental health and substance abuse
Death in New York in 1983
