Nuclear Holocaust, No Hope For Humanity

LORRAINE HANSBERRY — WHAT USE ARE FLOWERS? — 1969

Let’s start as if it were a rewriting of the famous fable by Washington Irving. Waking up in the world of 1969 would be rather destabilizing. But have a positive thought for this poor Rip who caused his own fate by what we would call alcoholism, even though stealthily hidden.

“By degrees Rip’s awe and apprehension subsided. He even ventured, when no eye was fixed upon him, to taste the beverage, which he found had much of the flavor of excellent Hollands. He was naturally a thirsty soul and was soon tempted to repeat the draught. One taste provoked another, and he reiterated his visits to the flagon so often that at length his senses were overpowered, his eyes swam in his head, his head gradually declined, and he fell into a deep sleep.” (Washington Irving. Rip Van Winkle. Kindle Edition. Project Gutenberg. Release date: December 20, 2019 [eBook #60976].

This is a mysterious play. We will more or less know that humanity had been destroyed by some nuclear weapon. The one called the Hermit who has lived twenty years in the forest comes out one day, probably feeling his close-by death approaching and needing some human company to die speaking to someone. He does not believe in God. When he comes out, he falls on a group of young children, all…