How does an author capture the reader's interest? Do all authors have the skills necessary to capture the reader's attention? This is a decision that should be left to the reader, but what most readers fail to recognize is that most authors incorporate issues faced in their lives into their works. One author who does this is Tennessee Williams. Williams' life, to put it mildly, is not what people would call "perfect." His play, "A Streetcar Named Desire", has a direct reference to his life difficulties. His life, the problems faced by the characters in this story, and how they deal with each other give a whole new perspective to the reader. Any reader can better understand an author's work by knowing some biographical information about that author. The author, Tennessee Williams, directly connects his life to his works. He was born to Cornelius and Edwina Williams and had two brothers; an older sister named Rose and a younger brother named Dakin. His father, a traveling salesman, was a drinker and gambler. Over the years he became abusive towards Williams. This was partly due to Williams' interest in reading and writing. The relationship between his mother and father wasn't much better. They argued constantly and were in an unhappy marriage. Although Williams' relationship with his parents was unstable, he was exceptionally close to his older sister Rose and was devastated by her rapidly deteriorating metal condition due to schizophrenia. When Rose was in her early thirties, her parents agreed to allow a doctor to perform a lobotomy, leaving her completely incapacitated. Williams' already damaged relationship with his parents was in shambles. From this moment in his life he separated from his family and moved... middle of paper... the fact that an author's work, for some, can be decided by whether or not they understand something of what they The author survived. Tennessee Williams is an author who uses his life directly in his writing, and understanding his life can make a difference in how the reader understands the work. “A Streetcar Named Desire” addresses many of the issues Williams faced throughout his life. His unhappily married parents, the addictions faced by him and his family, and the unstable mental state he and his sister faced were all shown in this play. Each reader must decide for himself what makes a writer special. For most writers, their life experiences are what inspire them and give them the ability to create extraordinary work. Sometimes a hard life is what can make an author become part of the story instead of just an image trapped in their mind.