Tennessee Williams authored A Streetcar Named Desire in 1947. This play delves into the dynamics of a troubled family, where the interactions escalate into violence.

Eugene O'Neill is regarded as a significant American playwright. He released Long Day's Journey into Night in 1956. This work also explores a family rife with tension, exacerbated by the characters' struggles with alcohol abuse.

A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry and first staged in 1959, depicts the experiences of a black family. Each member strives to make choices that benefit both the family as a whole and their individual aspirations.

Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, published in 1970, narrates the story of a young African-American girl who loses her grasp on reality due to her challenging life circumstances.

Elizabeth Bishop's poem, "In the Waiting Room," (1976) captures the moment a young girl realizes she is both a unique individual and an integral part of a larger community.