Symbolism In Andre's Mother By Terrence Mcnally

Andre’s Mother was an American drama play, written by Terrence McNally in 1988, as part of a Manhattan Theatre Club revue called “Urban Blight.” McNally focused his play on the AIDS epidemic, which, during his time, was affecting the gay population. Usually plays having to do with AIDS are about the victim of the disease and the message of their passing. However, this play focused on the ones who were left behind by someone who had passed.
This play is about a group of people and their reactions to the death of someone dear. At the beginning, they’re all standing while holding a white balloon. The audience later realizes that the white balloon represents the soul of Andre and that letting go of them means the acceptance of Andre’s soul ascending to Heaven. The main character Cal, who is Andre’s lover, has a difficult time letting go, but his sister, Penny, and his father, Arthur, aren’t hesitate at all. Cal takes time to reminisce his times with Andre and begins to talk of the relationship between Andre and his mother, who is beside Cal, not saying a word. He speaks of how unhealthy their relationship was and how Andre’s Mother disapproved of Andre for being homosexual. Afterwards, Cal chooses to let …show more content…
When you let go, it means you’re letting his soul ascend to Heaven.” However, in my opinion, they could also symbolize purity and something that is not yet changed by society. By considering the time period in which this was written, the thought of homosexuals being anything but impure was unusual. Therefore, McNally wanted to challenge the social norm by portraying a homosexual as pure, which in this case is the white color of the balloon. In the play it is revealed that Cal is not liked by Andre’s Mother and he’s aware of it, but, he still tries to create a relationship with her. In other words, Cal is trying to offer that they start anew, a chance to become