Lillian Hellman's early life was marked by a tumultuous family background, growing up in an upper-middle-class family with a domineering grandmother. This environment instilled a sense of independence and a strong connection to both literature and social issues. Living in a time of significant cultural and political change, she experienced first-hand the complexities of human relationships, which influenced her later works. Hellman's challenges, including financial instability and social controversies, fed into her playwriting, resulting in powerful narratives that often confronted topics like morality and personal integrity.