The Personal Conflict of Tennessee WilliamsTennessee Williams was a renowned playwright, who highlighted his personal experiences in his plays and stories. He had a colorful life and enjoyed writing about subjects considered taboo in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Williams explored homosexuality, alcoholism, violence, greed and sex. He also infused humor into his work. Williams dissected the traditional American family and wrote numerous stories about dysfunctional and unstable families. In journalist Bruce Smith's memoir of Tennessee Williams entitled Costly Performances, Tennessee is quoted reminding his readers: "I had a life of required endurance, a life spent clawing and scraping along a sheer surface and to hold on tightly with my raw fingers to every square inch. of rock taller than previously captured...." (Smith, 6) Williams was born Thomas Lanier Williams in his maternal grandfather's rectory in Columbus, Mississippi, on March 26, 1911. His father, Cornielus Coffin Williams Williams' mother was named Edwina Lanier Williams and she encouraged young Thomas to write. 'Amanda from her play "The Glass Menagerie" about her mother He had a sister named Rose, who was two years older, and when they were growing up, they were very close. Rose was a very sensitive child. In her 20s, she was classified as schizophrenic. She was later institutionalized and eventually underwent a lobotomy. Her sister's condition devastated Williams and he feared throughout her life that she would also succumb to the character. by Laura from “The Glass Menagerie” about her sister Rose. Williams had a younger brother named Dakin, who was eight years younger. Their father adored the younger brother and there was a lot of sibling rivalry between them. He actually based Brick and Grooper's relationship on his tumultuous relationship with Dakin. Additionally, Williams was very interested in people who lived on the margins of life, like Rose. He considered himself “different” and he was not popular in his youth. Thomas was teased in his youth by a boy named Brick, and Williams added that the character was weak-minded and flawed..