Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches Spirituality Quotes

The first thing we see onstage is a rabbi – a pretty clear signal that this play will be touching on themes of religion and spirituality. Note also the Star of David, the symbol of Judaism, and the yarzheit candle, a candle lit to honor the dead. You'll find Jewish spiritual traditions threaded throughout the play.

Here we have the first mention of the other major religion that the play deals with: Mormonism. Roy notes the fact that Mormonism is a distinctly American religion. This version of Christianity was established in the 1820s by Joseph Smith. We're guessing that Joe is named after this early spiritual leader.

Having been raised a Mormon, Harper sees everything through the lens of her spirituality. The ozone isn't just a scientific fact; it's a heavenly gift. It's not only a ring of gases in space; it's angels.

Though he's not a particularly spiritually-minded person, Louis tries to get the rabbi's advice about his instinct to abandon his lover, Prior. Unfortunately, this spiritual leader offers no advice on how to get rid of his guilt. What do you think about these very general statements that the rabbi makes about Judaism and Catholicism? Do they accurately represent both religions?

Hmm, we detect symbolism here. Joe's religion tells him that being gay is a sin. His sexual identity and his spiritual identity are at war with each other. You could even say that these two sides of his personality are "wrestling." Could this be why little Joe was so fascinated by the picture of Jacob struggling with the angel?

Sister Ella is referring here to Salt Lake City and is warning Joe's mom, Hannah, that she shouldn't move to New York. Salt Lake is generally considered to be a strongly Mormon city.

Louis is saying that America doesn't really have a spiritual center. He seems to imply that American religious movements are really more about politics. Do you think this is true? Is this the point of view of the play as a whole? How does the line "there are no angels in America" jive with the big old angel that comes crashing through Prior's ceiling at the end of play? How does it jive with the title?

When Prior is about to check out of the hospital, his nurse, Emily, starts spewing Hebrew at him – she's chanting about Prior's soul departing the earth. As we discuss in "Versions of Reality," this is kind of crazy because Emily, an Italian American, doesn't speak a word of Hebrew. Is Prior imagining it? This would also be weird. Prior is a straight-up WASP whose family came over on the Mayflower. Could it be that, with the approach of the angel, Prior is somehow connecting to a deeper spiritual past? If so, it's pretty interesting that that spiritual past is a Jewish one, given Prior's Christian cultural background. What statement might the play be making about the place of Judaism in the spiritual framework of the Western world?

Man, those are some of the best stage directions we've ever read. This happens in the hospital just after Emily, Prior's nurse, starts chanting Hebrew. The moment is strange for all the same reasons. The Aleph inscribed on the book is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and has special spiritual significance, according to followers of Kabbalah, a mystical school of Jewish thought. Once again, why is Prior, super WASP, having visions of all things Hebrew? And what does this say about the place of Judaism in Western spirituality?

Here we are at the final moment of the play. Earlier Louis claimed that there are no angels in America, but here's one in the middle of Prior's bedroom. What could this mean from a spiritual standpoint? Is Prior experiencing a spiritual awakening through his sickness? What exactly is he supposed to be the prophet of? You'll just have to read Part Two to find out.