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Perestroika: Act 1, Scene 3
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Angels in America, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Homosexuality in the AIDS Era
Prophets and Prophecies
Progressivism, Conservatism, and Change
Fantasy, Escape, and Tragedy
The Clash between People and Principles
Summary
Analysis
Hannah Pitt enters Joe Pitt’s apartment, accompanied by Joe’s landlord. She’s just come from the Mormon Visitors’ Center, and seems not to know where Joe is. The phone rings, and Hannah answers it.
Kushner again emphasizes the distance—both emotional and physical—between Hannah and her son.
Themes
Hannah learns from a police officer that Harper has been arrested in Prospect Park for stealing a large tree. Hannah snaps at the officer—who seems to be laughing loudly over the phone—and assures him that this is no laughing matter. She orders the officer to tell Harper that she’s coming to take care of her.
Hannah is strict and not particularly friendly, but she also has a strong sense of duty and loyalty to her family. Joe might be leaving Harper, but Hannah clearly still considers Harper to be family, and so worthy of Hannah’s concern and action.
Themes
