Homophobic Discourse in Tennessee Williams: A Comparative Study ofCat on a Hot Tin RoofandA Streetcar Named Desire

Abstract

This dissertation basically makes a comparative study of homophobic discourse found in Tennessee Williams’s playCat on a Hot Tin RoofandA Streetcar Named Desire. Brick inCat on a Hot Tin Roofand Allan inA Streetcar Named Desireare homosexual characters. Both of them are central characters and exemplary outcasted figures of the then contemporary heterosexual hegemonic society. Williams tries to show the different sexual orientation as natural as heterosexual counterpart by makinghis homosexual characters more loving and understanding in comparison to their heterosexual characters. However, while dealing homosexuality of his characters, there is Williams’ mixed signal regarding homosexuality and at the same time his obsession withpublic exposures as if it is really a terrifying and taboo subjects. Being a gay himself, the discourse of homophobia is only to conceal his true identity because homosexuality is an inadmissible thing in his plays. This thesis tends to prove the idea thatonly the partial evasions of full-fledged homosexuality of the characters and Williams’ inability to express the different sexual orientation like homosexuality openly and directly is because of his own split identity and split vision.0