The Problem of ˝Insanity˝and Autobiography in the Selected Works of Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams je eden bolj znanih svetovnih avtorjev, ki se je v zgodovino gledališča, filma in književnosti zapisal z monumentalnimi deli, kot so Steklena menagerija, Tramvaj poželenje in Mačka na vroči pločevinasti strehi. Njegova dela predstavljajo ženske junakinje, močne ženske ali ženske, ki propadejo pod težo družbe in pravil. Dela se odlikujejo predvsem po posebnem liričnem slogu in posebnem občutenju sveta, v katerem se vidi velik razkorak med stvarnostjo in iluzijo, posebej blizu pa so mu poetični junaki in junakinje, ki so krhki, nežni in se sprehajajo po robu razuma. V svoji diplomski nalogi sem analizirala tri drame Tennesseeja Williamsa, Stekleno menagerijo, Tramvaj poželenje in Igro za dve osebi. Vsa tri dela se osredotočajo na junakinje in junake, ki v realnem svetu ne morejo živeti in preživeti, zato se zatekajo v neko obliko norosti ali iluzije. Williamsovo delo je močno prežeto z avtobiografskimi motivi, zato sem temu v diplomskem delu tudi namenila obširno pozornost. S pomočjo teorije avtobiografije in psiholoških dognanj o duševnih motnjah sem podrobno raziskala življenje Tennesseeja Williamsa, obdobje, v katerem je ustvarjal, in dogodke, ki jih je kasneje prelil v svojo literaturo. Tako z gotovostjo lahko potrdim, da je bila večni navdih ženskih likov v Tennesseejevih dramah sestra Rose, delno pa tudi mati Edvina. Williamsa je zaznamoval tudi življenjski slog na ameriškem jugu Združenih držav Amerike, vse to pa najdemo tudi v njegovih delih. Avtobiografske elemente in elemente »norosti« tako predstavljam v pričujoči diplomski nalogi.Tennessee Williams is a well known American author, known in the history of theatre, film and literature as one of the most profound writers, who wrote the works like The Glass Menagerie, A Street Car Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Many characters in his works are strong women and women, who break under the burdens of life and society. His works are known for his special lyrical style of writing and for themes that present us the discrepancy between the real world and the illusion. Characters are mostly poetic, fragile, and gentle. They are always at the edge of reason. This diploma paper is an analysis of three plays by Tennessee Williams: The Glass Menagerie, A Street Car Named Desire and The Two Character Play. All three works present us with characters that are not able to live in the real world. Therefore they retreat from realityand become delusional or insane. The works of Williams are marked by autobiographical elements, which are thoroughly presented in this thesis. With the help of the theory of autobiography and psychological findings in the field of mental disorders, I presented the life of Tennessee Williams, his work and the events that found their way into his literature. As it is presented in this work, the inspiration for all women characters was found in his sister Rose and his mother Edwina. Through his writing we can also sense the lifestyle of American south. The autobiographical elements and the elements of insanity are presented in great detail in this diploma paper