"In memory everything seems to happen to music"

Tennessee Williams, among America's most prestigious playwrights, had an extensive capability to weave complex psychological tapestries with his words. The quote "In memory everything seems to happen to music" can be unpacked to reveal deep insights into the nature of human recollection and the emotional landscapes of our pasts.

At its core, the quote recommends that memories are inherently accompanied by a psychological soundtrack. Just as music has the power to evoke intense emotions, so too do our memories. Music is a universal language that goes beyond barriers; it can stir feelings and transport us to various times and places. Likewise, our memories are not mere factual recordings of past occasions. They are deeply linked with the feelings we felt at those moments, typically colored by the passing of time and our subsequent experiences.

In Williams' view, memories do not reappear to us as cold, tough facts, however rather as brilliant, emotionally charged scenes. Music frequently has a method of accentuating feelings, and so it becomes a metaphor for how memories run. An easy note or melody can trigger a flood of feelings and images from our past, just like how a particular scent or picture can.

Additionally, Williams may be meaning the glamorized nature of memory. The flaws and selective focus in how we recall the past can make those memories more poignant, just as music can enhance a narrative. Simply as a film's soundtrack increases its drama or sentimentality, the way we remember events can frequently amplify our feelings about them, whether it is love, loss, pleasure, or regret.

In theater and writing, music typically plays a subtle role in setting the atmosphere and mood. Williams' work is understood for its climatic intensity, and this quote underscores the narrative power of memories imbued with feeling, similar to a play highlighted by a poignant rating. In comprehending this, we're reminded that reliving our past is often a psychological endeavor, just like listening to an old, familiar song.