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blogging101, Creative Writing, Journaling, Quotes, Reflections, Tennessee Williams, The Happy Quitter!, Writing 101, Writing Prompts
I’ve been invited once again to join the 3-Day Quote Challenge by the lovely Bridget over at The happy Quitter. I never turn these down because I dote on quotes! So here we go! Day 1…
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Tennessee Williams
Orlando Fernandez, World Telegram staff photographer – Library of Congress. New York World-Telegram & Sun Collection.
Thomas Lanier “Tennessee” Williams III (March 26, 1911 – February 25, 1983) was an American playwright and author of many stage classics. Along with Eugene O’Neill and Arthur Miller he is considered among the three foremost playwrights in 20th century American drama.
After years of obscurity, he became suddenly famous with The Glass Menagerie (1944), closely reflecting his own unhappy family background. This heralded a string of successes, including A Streetcar Named Desire (1947), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955), and Sweet Bird of Youth (1959). His later work attempted a new style that did not appeal to audiences, and alcohol and drug dependence further inhibited his creative output. His drama A Streetcar Named Desire is often numbered on the short list of the finest American plays of the 20th century alongside Long Day’s Journey into Night and Death of a Salesman.
Much of Williams’ most acclaimed work was adapted for the cinema. He also wrote short stories, poetry, essays and a volume of memoirs. In 1979, four years before his death, Williams was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.)
SO why did I want you to know all that about Tennessee Williams? Because I wanted you to understand (after the references above to all his dramatic plays — STELLA!!!) why I believe what he says in the quote I chose for today.
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I have found it easier to identify with the characters who verge upon hysteria, who were frightened of life, who were desperate to reach out to another person. But these seemingly fragile people are the strong people really.
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I love this quote because if anyone knew people inside and out it was Williams. I’ve always felt like such a weakling as I’ve cowered in the corner of my own little world, scared to death to venture out in the unknown. But this quote makes me feel like maybe I’m not such a hopeless case after all. Maybe, just maybe there’s a little more to me than what I give myself credit for.
I’m still open to that possibility!
Impromptu Promptlings 
 photographed by Orland Fernandez in 1965 for the 20th anniversary of The Glass Menagerie. Born Thomas Lanier Williams III March 26, 1911 Columbus, Mississippi, United States Died February 25, 1983 (aged 71) New York City, New York, United States Resting place Calvary Cemetery St. Louis, Missouri Nationality American Partner(s) Frank Merlo Pancho Rodríguez y González Parent(s) Edwina and Cornelius Coffin Williams Signature Tennessee Williams signature.svg Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III (March 26, 1911 – February 25, 1983) was an American playwright and author of many stage classics. Along with Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller he is considered among the three foremost playwrights in 20th century American drama.[1] After years of obscurity, he became suddenly famous with The Glass Menagerie (1944), closely reflecting his own unhappy family background. This heralded a string of successes, including A Streetcar Named Desire (1947), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955), and Sweet Bird of Youth (1959). His later work attempted a new style that did not appeal to audiences, and alcohol and drug dependence further inhibited his creative output. His drama A Streetcar Named Desire is often numbered on the short list of the finest American plays of the 20th century alongside Long Day's Journey into Night and Death of a Salesman.[1] Much of Williams' most acclaimed work was adapted for the cinema. He also wrote short stories, poetry, essays and a volume of memoirs. In 1979, four years before his death, Williams was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.){kind=link}
You said: “But this quote makes me feel like maybe I’m not such a hopeless case after all. Maybe, just maybe there’s a little more to me than what I give myself credit for.”
You know, we, who love you, know you’re not as hopeless as you feel, but for your own sake, DO stay open to the possibility, or perhaps more importantly to that reality. And it’s not just a ‘little’ more, it’s a heaping lot more than you see. {{{Calen}}}
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Ah Fim, you’re good for what ails me — whatever that is! 😀 Thank you.
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That’s a lovey quote, and an interesting position on the subject. It’s also amazing how we see ourselves as opposed to how others see us, I guess strength is easier to see when you are outside looking in.
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I guess he was saying they are strong because regardless of what they’re struggling with, they continue to reach out.
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Yeah maybe, but when in the thick of it, you don’t feel strong. And knowing that feeling, it’s almost laughable to be called strong when all there is is frantic.
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Oh how well I know that feeling… I have a real problem seeing myself as strong, too. I guess that’s why I gravitate to that quote. I’d like to believe it. 😦
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Calen, have you discovered this wonderful poet yet? http://littleoldladywho.net/
I think you might love her poetry. She has recorded herself reading the one about the world and she is a wonderful oral interpreter of her own work. I’m crazy about it.
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I haven’t, but I’ll run over there and give her a listen. I read Scott Summer’s post that he was going to try and write like Ted Kooser. That ought to be interesting. I do have one poem by Kooser that I really like. It’s called The Spiral Notebook. (http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2005/02/10) Think I’ll use it for my poem this Friday. Thanks for the heads up about the lady, Judy. I’ll go check her out.
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I like S.Thomas’s poetry better than Ted Kooser’s. It has a level of imagery and subtlety that is what I love so much about it…originality of statement. Kooser is pretty much all laid on the table. Very literal.
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Scott just posted a poem. It was good. More visual. But I still could see his style there.
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I edited a teenage poetry journal named “The Spiral Notebook” in the late seventies. He stole our name! Ha.
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He was a character and a tortured soul.
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Makes you wonder if a person can really write great stuff unless they ARE a tortured soul. Know what I mean?
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Oh absolutely, not ever writer had to be drowning in alcohol and drugs. Like you don’t have to cut your own ear of to be a good painter 🙂
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