Every character's perception of life and death differs depending on their personal lifestyle and experiences, and Tennessee Williams thoroughly discusses the differences between his characters" views on these two opposing forces in the play Orpheus Descending. Lady, Val, and Carol all possess their own interpretations of what life is and whether or not one should embrace it. Williams follows his characters through their dramatic interactions and molds them into round and complex individuals who are easily influenced by the impact of another compelling character. Through their interaction, together the characters each form an understanding of what it means to be living, and what one's purpose in life is.
Williams integrates strong imagery and symbols to convey perceptions of life and death and alludes to them frequently throughout the play. We first encounter the imagery of the breastbone of a bird brought into the dry goods store by Uncle Pleasant. The bone still has bits of flesh "clinging to it," implying there is something left behind by the animal and a bit of his life is left behind on the bone and is "still tainted by corruption (25)." According to Carol, the bone must first be left out "on a bare rock in the rain and the sun till every sign of corruption is burned and washed away from it, then it will be a good charm (31)." Carol equates living with corruption in this passage. Her idea of life is more closely related to her interpretation of "jooking." .
"That's where you get in a car and drink a little and drive a little and stop and dance a little to a juke box and then you drink a little more and drive a little more and stop and dance a little more to a juke box and then you stop dancing and you just drink and drive and then you stop driving and just drink, and then, finally, you stop drinking (32)." .
She is unaware of what else there is to do on earth besides take advantage of everything that comes her way in case the opportunity passes her by.
