In "Andre's Mother" by Terrance McNally a family is leaving their loved one, Andre, dead of AIDS. Andre is gay with a boyfriend Cal that he kept a secret from his mother. The setting of this play is the late 1980s in New York City, a time when homosexuality was not accepted in society and demonized as the root of the HIV/AIDS disease. Art forms have responded to this problem much like this play. Andre's mother never knew his secret and never took a verbal stand on it. The symbols – the language used, the village and the white balloon – throughout this play show that McNally is persuading his audience to accept homosexuality and AIDS. The language in this play or the lack thereof changes the entire mood and theme of the play. Andres' mother's use of no language and only actions convinces the audience to accept Andres' secret as his mother does. “His lips are trembling. It seems about to collapse. He's about to let go of the balloon when he pulls it down. She looks at him for a while before kissing him softly.”(McNally 3) Her actions noted in the direction show her acceptance of Andre in whatever form he is. In this part of the show, when she finds out his secret, she still respects him and shows him love by kissing the balloon. “Cal: I wish I knew what you were thinking. I think he would help me...When he was sick if I asked him once I will ask him a thousand times, tell him. She is your mother. She won't mind.”(McNally2) Andre and Cal always talked about Andre's fear of telling his mother that he was homosexual because of his narrow views. Without really knowing what Andre's mother thought, her love for her son was greater than any disapproval of his sexuality. Penny Cal's sister... in the center of the paper... died through unprotected homosexual/heterosexual sexual intercourse. During this time period this information was believed and not easily available. Cal, on the other hand, was very open and intimate in his relationship with Andre. Cal loved Andre just as if they were already married. Despite this deadly syndrome and his personal beliefs, he still ascends to heaven just like everyone else. In conclusion “Andre's Mother” was a play to persuade the public to accept AIDS and homosexuality in the 20th century. Instead of pushing the audience into his opinion, he gently guides them to his view of the famous social issue. Using the symbols: language used, fraction and the white balloon that completes the admission of Andre.Works CitedMcNally,Terrance. "Andre's mother." Backpack literature. Fourth edition. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2012. Valuable Press