Infected and Affected

        The play "Angels in America" deals not only with the effect of the syndrome on those afflicted with it, but also on their loved ones. In fact, the illness seems to take as much of a toll on Louis, the loved one, than Prior, the man living with AIDs. The story, too, just as intently follows Louis' ability or inability to cope with his boyfriend having the syndrome as it does Prior's actual struggle with the sickness.
       In doing this, the play examines how difficult it is to watch loved ones struggle. Objectively, it is thoroughly selfish to consider abandoning a loved one in a time of desperate need, but the play illuminates the emotions and difficulties that could cause one to consider doing so. Louis struggles just as much with negative feelings about Prior's illness as he does with negative feelings as a result of his own fear and doubts. This confronts the audience with a dilemma: is it worse to have to watch someone suffer, or worse to force them to suffer alone?
        One effect of this is that it demonstrates exactly how far reaching this epidemic was, not only infecting hordes of people, but also affecting their loved ones. It also humanizes an illness by showing the range of emotions associated with it.