Summary of something unspoken
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"Something Unspoken' was written in 1958, and debuted as part of a double bill of one-act plays written by Williams entitled 'Garden District' (the other one-act play was 'Suddenly, Last Summer'). which premiered Off-Broadway that year. The action takes place in Meridian, Louisiana and during the course of the play, the two characters are developed with remarkable insight. It is a play with an underlying current of irony.
Miss Cornelia Scott is a wealthy Southern spinster in her 60s - a grande dame. She dresses elaborately and generally lives her life with a vast amount of pomp and circumstance. She is waiting on tenterhooks to hear about the elections of the local chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy. Having been a member for years and having held every other office, she wants to be Regent. The problem is that her fear of rejection is so huge that she cannot submit to the indignities of campaigning.
Williams gives the audience a great insight into her inner emotions. Under the facade, Cornelia is lonely and eager for approval. She is so afraid of rejection that she can barely think about it - and certainly cannot force herself to go as far as campaigning for votes. Externally, nobody would guess however that she is so vulnerable.