Tennessee Williams: Life, Works, and Impact
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Early Life Tennessee Williams, born Thomas Lanier Williams III, was a renowned American playwright and author. He entered the world on March 26, 1911, in Columbus, Mississippi, USA. His father, Cornelius Coffin Williams, worked as a traveling shoe salesman, while his mother, Edwina Dakin, was a music teacher. Due to his father's constant travels, Tennessee spent his early years at his maternal grandparents' home. Unfortunately, his father's turbulent behavior and alcoholism cast a shadow of dysfunction over the family, depriving them of love and tenderness. Williams also battled serious illnesses during his youth, an experience that would later influence his successful literary career, as he drew from his childhood and family background. Education Tennessee began his formal education at Soldan High School and later attended University City High School. After completing his high school studies, he enrolled at the University of Missouri in Columbia with an initial focus on jour…