Hannah Kushner's Insanity

Hannah represents the progress of humankind; throughout the play she transitions from hating gay people to befriending three of them. Hannah’s first interaction in New York City is with a homeless woman who states, “In the new century...we will all be insane” (111). The changing ideals and blurring of previous stark lines of division are contrary to the angels’ message of stasis. However, stasis is impossible. “Insanity” can be found in the shift of ideals. Hannah makes huge progress in terms of acceptance of others throughout the play. Due to Hannah’s motherly instincts and divergence from being a devout Mormon, she represents the “insane” progress made in the new millenium. Her character is a microcosm of the play as a whole.

At first, Hannah

Hannah comes off as a headstrong woman who doesn’t waste time. Exemplified by her statement, “I don’t wait more than three and three quarter hours for anyone” (108). Again, she comes across as very controlling. Additionally, she tells this to a random woman she just met, revealing her openness towards her need for control. In her first interaction with someone in New York, Kushner introduces the idea, “In the new century...we will all be insane” (111). This sets the tone for the rest of Hannah’s interactions. The

She feels unsure of his identity, but as the play progress she becomes more progressive. Hannah puts Prior’s wellbeing before her personal beliefs. She’s willing to change and accept. She validates Prior, mentioning that he may have had a vision, her Mormon beliefs still guide her. She’s willing to indulge in Prior’s vision, although she may just feel this way because he’s sick and she wants to comfort him. She eventually drives him to make the most important decision in the play, saying “An angel is a belief. With wings and arms that can carry you. If it lets you down, reject it” (242). This leads to her own interaction with the angel, the turning point in her journey towards “insanity.” Hannah’s continued connection to her mormon