48 pages • 1 hour read
Tennessee WilliamsThe Night of the Iguana
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1961A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Night of the Iguana, a play by Tennessee Williams, revolves around Lawrence T. Shannon, a disgraced former minister turned tour guide, who is accused of statutory rape. At a rustic hotel owned by Maxine Faulk in Mexico, Shannon battles to maintain control of his tour group. The play delves into themes of man's relationship with God, sexual desire, loneliness, jealousy, and confinement.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Tennessee Williams' The Night of the Iguana is lauded for its rich, complex characters and intense emotional depth, capturing human frailties and existential dilemmas. Critics praise Williams' potent dialogue and vivid setting. However, some find the narrative pacing occasionally sluggish, and the plot's density a potential obstacle for casual readers.
Who Should Read The Night of the Iguana?
A reader who enjoys introspective drama, complex characters, and psychological tension will find The Night of the Iguana by Tennessee Williams riveting. Fans of Williams' other works or those who appreciate Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman and Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night will likely be drawn to this powerful, character-driven narrative.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Play: Drama
Southern Gothic
Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness
Identity: Mental Health
Natural World: Animals