Is there racism in Williams Orpheus Descending?
Of course there is racism in Tennessee Williams’ “Orpheus Descending. ” It is set in a small town in the deep south, Mississippi of 1957. The Ku Klux Klan is part of the storyline, with the character of Jabe Torrance being a member. The “N” word is spouted liberally by the town Sheriff Talbott. Not only is racism a huge part of the inner world of this play, so is intolerance of non-conformity. This is all a product of time and place. Williams uses it to illustrate the ignorance and cruelty of many of his characters.
