Historical Context
Sexuality and Disease
Amidst the cultural backdrop when Lanford Wilson penned Burn This, the AIDS crisis loomed large in the lives of the homosexual community. Yet, rather than confronting the epidemic directly, Wilson crafted a tale centered on heterosexual romance. The specter of AIDS was omnipresent in 1987; this was the year the FDA granted approval to AZT, a pioneering medication offering a glimmer of hope for those afflicted by the disease. Although the cost of AZT soared to an estimated $10,000 annually per patient—placing it out of reach for many—it was a beacon of possibility in a dire landscape.
Amidst this backdrop, Surgeon General C. Everett Koop made waves by suggesting that television networks should broadcast condom commercials, a proposal that shocked many. Critics, fearing these ads might spur promiscuity, met Koop’s idea with resistance. Some religious factions viewed AIDS as divine retribution against homosexuals and advocated for abstinence-only public campaigns. In the political arena, efforts to escalate government funding for AIDS research sparked fierce debate, even as demonstrators took to the streets of Washington, demanding action. Despite mounting pressure, President Ronald Reagan hesitated to respond until it became undeniable that AIDS threatened not just the gay community but the heterosexual population as well.
The sexual revolution that had been unfurling since the 1960s hit a sobering juncture as AIDS emerged as a pervasive threat, not merely a "gay man's disease." By the twilight of the 1980s, the fear engendered by the epidemic led many to reevaluate their sexual conduct. Thus, when Anna and Pale plunge into a physical relationship despite their unfamiliarity, audiences of the era were acutely aware of the inherent risks, reflecting the tensions of a transformative time.
Art
In 1987, life and art danced in synchronicity, with the stage and screen mirroring the tumultuous headlines of the day. The themes of racial and sexual intolerance, along with the pervasive mistrust of corporate giants, offered rich fodder for storytellers. Although Burn This sidesteps overt discussions of prejudice, it delves deeply into the theme of intolerance. Wilson paints a vivid picture of Robbie's family's narrow-mindedness, whereas Larry's recounting of an airplane journey reveals the prejudices of a fellow passenger, championing "the American family" with a narrow vision.
Prejudice against homosexuality had become pronounced just prior to 1987, fueled by the growing numbers battling HIV and AIDS. This fear-driven bias spurred a rise in hate crimes against the gay community. Around the premiere of Burn This, two other plays tackling discrimination took the stage. August Wilson's compelling Fences examined the detrimental impact of discrimination on a man's dreams, while Alfred Uhry's Driving Miss Daisy depicted individuals transcending societal constraints rooted in class, race, and religion.
Meanwhile, the scandalous tales of insider trading dominated Wall Street, even inspiring the film Wall Street, in which Michael Douglas's portrayal of an unscrupulous mogul earned him an Academy Award. As inflation and depression gripped American farmers, threatening their way of life, these artistic works offered glimpses of justice and the prospect of a brighter tomorrow. In an era where entertainment became a lifeline, films like Moonstruck, Babette's Feast, and The Untouchables offered a much-needed escape. In 1987, American audiences clung to the promise of hope, whether tangible or imagined.
Literary Style
Act
In the realm of ancient Greek theater, dramas unfolded in distinct segments, each heralded by the chorus's entrance, typically divided into five acts. This structural blueprint was embraced by writers from classical antiquity through the Roman era, and later by Elizabethan masters like William Shakespeare. These five acts serve as the scaffolding for the dramatic narrative: exposition sets the stage, complication introduces conflict, climax...
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reaches the narrative peak, falling action unravels the tension, and catastrophe concludes the tale. This traditional framework prevailed until the innovative Henrik Ibsen began to blend and condense acts in the nineteenth century. In contrast,Burn This unfolds in two acts. The first act introduces us to the bereavement of Robbie and the tapestry of family lore. Here, too, the complication arises as Anna's fondness for Pale becomes evident. The story reaches its zenith at the dawn of the second act, with a heated clash between Burton and Pale, culminating in Anna ousting Burton and embracing Pale. The aftermath, or falling action, emerges as Anna confesses her trepidation towards emotional vulnerability. In the final twist, known traditionally as the catastrophe, Larry steps in to bind the two lovers together.
Characters
The essence of a narrative lies in the deeds and decisions of its characters. These figures can embody a spectrum of moralities and complexities, ranging from straightforward archetypes to intricate, multi-dimensional personas. Characters might be etched with defining traits, like the audacious rogue or the beleaguered damsel. "Characterization" is the art of crafting a vibrant, believable entity from the author's creativity. This involves endowing characters with distinct attributes that shape their identities and behaviors in various situations. In Burn This, the characters come alive through dialogue that lays bare their essence and temperament. Larry, for instance, wields humor as a tool to navigate and mitigate life's inherent challenges.
Plot
A well-crafted plot traditionally encompasses a beginning, middle, and end, yet it may also weave a tapestry of interconnected episodes. Fundamentally, the plot serves as a vehicle for the author to delve into overarching themes. While students often conflate these terms, themes explore conceptual ideas while plots straightforwardly narrate the sequence of events. Thus, the plot of Burn This chronicles the evolving romance between Anna and Pale.
Setting
The setting of a play encapsulates the time, locale, and cultural milieu where the narrative unfolds. This can encompass everything from the geographical backdrop and the physical or psychological environment to the dominant cultural norms and historical context. In Wilson's play, the stage is set within a New York City loft, grounding the drama in a specific urban and cultural landscape.
Compare and Contrast
The Struggle for Equality and Recognition
1987: In the heart of Washington, D.C., a wave of protests surges as homosexuals raise their voices against discrimination, calling for justice and urging the government to boost funding for AIDS research.
Today: Despite decades of progress, homosexuality continues to be a basis for prejudice in various facets of life. Within the military, it stands as a primary cause for general discharges, even as President Clinton’s "don't ask, don't tell" policy is meant to provide a veil of protection.
The Fight Against AIDS
1987: The FDA grants approval to AZT, a breakthrough in AIDS treatment. Priced at an exorbitant $10,000 annually, it offers hope yet is no panacea. Many sufferers endure severe side effects, rendering the medication intolerable for some.
Today: The latest advancement in AIDS treatment, the protease inhibitor, emerges with promise yet remains elusive in delivering a cure. As with many preceding therapies, these new drug combinations fail certain patients and remain financially out of reach for many.
Public Health and Awareness
1987: U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop advocates for the broadcast of condom commercials on television, aiming to enhance public consciousness and preventive measures.
Today: While some regions resist, a handful of condom commercials have made their way onto national television, yet a pervasive public opposition lingers.
International Conflict and Literature
1987: Amid harrowing ethnic violence, India and Sri Lanka ink a treaty, striving to quell the unrest that has gripped the region for four relentless years. However, peace remains elusive as hostilities persist.
Today: In Bosnia, ethnic strife continues to ensnare American troops, with brutal acts, particularly against women, staining the saga of the Croatian-Serb War.
1987: With the publication of Beloved, Toni Morrison captivates readers with the poignant tale of a slave girl, weaving a tapestry of profound narrative and emotion.
Today: Oprah Winfrey, renowned television host and actress, prepares to unveil the film adaptation of Beloved, promising a visual journey into Morrison’s literary masterpiece.
Media Adaptations
Currently, there are no cinematic or televised versions of Burn This gracing our screens. However, the imaginative works of Lanford Wilson have occasionally found themselves adapted for television. Among these adaptations are: Stoop: A Turn, which aired during the New York Television Theatre series in 1969, Fifth of July, brought to life by Showtime in 1982, and The Migrants, a collaborative effort with Tennessee Williams, which captivated audiences on CBS in 1973.
Bibliography and Further Reading
Sources
Brown, Julie. "The Great Ventriloquist Act-Gender and Voice m the Fiction Workshop," in Associated Writing Programs Chronicle, September, 1993, pp 7-9.
Bryer, Jackson R. "Lanford Wilson," in The Playwright's Art Conversations with Contemporary American Dramatists, Rutgers University Press, 1995, pp.277-96.
DiGaetam, John L. "Lanford Wilson," in A Search for a Postmodern Theatre. Interviews with Contemporary Playwrights, Greenwood Press, 1991, pp. 285-93.
Ferguson, Mary Anne. Images of Women in Literature, Houghton Mifflin, 1977.
Heilbrun, Carolyn G. Writing A Woman's Life, Ballantme, 1988, pp. 33-47.
Jacobi, Martin J. "The Comic Vision of Lanford Wilson,'' in Studies in the Literary Imagination, Vol. 21, No 2,1988, pp 119-134.
Rich, Frank Review Burn This, in The New York Times, October 15,1987.
Savran, David. "Lanford Wilson," in In Their Own Words. Contemporary American Playwrights, Theatre Communications Group, 1988, pp 306-20.
Watermeier, Daniel J. "Lanford Wilson's Liebestod. Character, Archetype, and Myth in Burn This," in A Lanford Wilson Casebook, edited by Jackson Bryer, New York, 1990.
Wilson, Edwin. "Hot and Bothered: Malkovich on Fire," in The Wall Street Journal, October 21,1987.
Further Reading
Busby, Mark. Lanford Wilson, Boise State University, 1987 This short book—52 pages—is a biography of Wilson.
Byer, Jackson. A Lanford Wilson Casebook, Garland, 1990. This collection of critical essays examine several of Lanford's plays.
Gonzales, Doreen. AIDS: Ten Stones of Courage, Enslow, 1996.This book contains brief biographies of some of the more famous victims of AIDS.
Shilts, Randy. And The Band Played On, St. Martin's Press, 1987. This book traces events related to the AIDS epidemic It was made into a cable television movie in 1993.