Tennessee Williams: Buys & Buys

Posted by admin on Thursday, December 15, 2022

Meaning of Tennessee Williams Money Quote: saying humans continue their purchasing and buying in the hope that it buys immortality. Tennessee Williams said:

 

 

“The human animal is a beast that dies and if he’s got money he buys and buys and buys and I think the reason he buys everything he can buy is that in the back of his mind he has the crazy hope that one of his purchases will be life everlasting! — Which it never can be…” — Tennessee Williams

 

 

In this quote, Tennessee Williams seems to be commenting on humanity’s relationship with wealth and material goods. Some key points:

• He describes humans as “beasts that die”, highlighting our mortality as animals.
• Williams notes that if one has money, the natural reaction is to “buy and buy and buy” constantly acquiring more possessions.
• However, he suggests this endless consumption is fueled by a “crazy hope” deep down that one of the purchases will somehow extend life forever and conquer death.
• Of course, Williams acknowledges that no material item can truly provide “life everlasting.” Money and possessions are finite and temporary.

Overall, the quote portrays an existential perspective on how the awareness of mortality may unconsciously drive society’s obsession with wealth accumulation and consumerism and the pursuit of permanence through acquiring things, even though this is ultimately a futile attempt to defy the natural order through commercial means.

Birthday: March 26, 1911 – Death: February 25, 1983

Categories: spending Tagged:buybuyspurchasestennessee williams