Symbols in the Glass Menagerie - 1307 Words

In the play, The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, Williams uses many symbols which represent many different things.?Many of the symbols used in the play try to symbolize some form of escape or difference between reality and illusion.?The first symbol, presented in the first scene, is the fire escape.?This represents the bridge between the illusory world of the Wingfields and the world of reality.?This bridge seems to be a one way excursion.?But the direction varies for each character.?For Tom, the fire escape is the way out of the world of Amanda and Laura and an entrance into a world of new dimensions.?For Laura, the fire escape is a way into her own world. A way to escape from reality.?Amanda perceives the fire escape as a way†¦show more content†¦Dont you think I know it? Im so proud! Happy and - I feel Ive - so much to be thankful for (p. 414).?Amanda has two fears in her life.?One of her worst fears is having Tom grow up to be his father. Promise, son, youll - ne ver be a drunkard! (p. 414).?When I see you taking after his ways! Staying out late - and - well, you had been drinking the night you were in that - terrifying condition (p. 415).?Amandas other fear in life is having Laura grow old without a gentleman caller.?We have to be making plans and provisions for her. She just drifts along doing nothing. It frightens me terribly how she just drifts along (p. 416).?Tom suggested to Amanda that Laura just might be what people call home girls but Amanda refuses to believe it.?Theres no such type, and if there is, its a pity! That is unless the home is hers, with a husband (p. 416).?Therefore, Amanda sees the fire escape as a way to escape her own problems and invite gentlemen callers into their lives for Laura.? à  Ã‚ ®?Laura has issues of her own and she also finds the need to escape them. Laura leads a life of simplicity and has a difficult time dealing with the outside world.?I put her in business college - a dismal failure! Frightened her so it made her sick to her stomach. I took her over toShow MoreRelated Essay on the Use of Symbols, Tensions, and Irony in The Glass Menagerie891 Words   |  4 PagesUse of Symbols, Tensions, and Irony in The Glass Menagerie      Ã‚  Ã‚   The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, is a perfect example of how Williams incorporates symbols, tensions, and irony to help express the central theme of the play.      Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the most dominant symbols in the play is the fire escape.   It represents something different for each of the characters.   Tom uses the fire escape to escape from his cramped apartment and nagging mother.   Therefore, the fire escape symbolizesRead MoreImportant Symbols and Themes of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams7390 Words   |  30 PagesImportant Symbols and Themes of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams Tennessee Williams play, The Glass Menagerie is considered a memory play because it is told from the memory of the narrator. 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Laura’s memories from the past shape her personality, such as the name, â€Å"Blue Roses,† which illustrates her fragile nature, much like the fragility of the glass menagerie. In order to symbolize Laura Wingfield’s fragile behavior dueRead More The Glass Menagerie Essay685 Words   |  3 PagesThe Glass Menagerie Symbolism is a major aspect in Tennessee Williams famous play, The Glass Menagerie. On the surface, the short slice of life story seems to be simple. However, if the reader digs deeper they will find that there are several symbols that give the play a deeper meaning. Each character defines each symbol in a different way. There are some very noticeable symbols that can be analyzed when studying The Glass Menagerie. The first is the actual glass menagerie that representsRead MoreThe Glass Menagerie Symbolism Essay1424 Words   |  6 PagesImagination or Illusion Can Create Big Trouble The Glass Menagerie is a five-character memory play written by Tennessee Williams in 1945. The play is introduced to the audience by Tom, the narrator and protagonist, as a memory play based on his recollection of his mother Amanda, his sister Laura, and his friend Jim O’Connor as a gentleman caller. There is a fifth character in the play, Tom’s father who doesn’t appear except in the photograph frame. Among them one of the most interesting charactersRead MoreEssay Crushed Dreams in The Glass Menagerie1194 Words   |  5 PagesDreams in The Glass Menagerie      Ã‚  Ã‚   Tennessee Williams is known for his use of symbols, tension, and irony. Williams uses all of these components to express the central theme of The Glass Menagerie - hope followed by despair. Each of the characters has dreams that are destroyed by the harsh realities of the world.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As the narrator blatantly admits, since I have a poets weakness for symbols, symbols are central to The Glass Menagerie (Williams 30). Symbols are merely concreteRead MoreSymbolism in the Glass Menagerie Essay831 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism in The Glass Menagerie Symbolism plays a fundamental part in Tennessee Williams’s play, â€Å"The Glass Menagerie†. Examples of the use of symbolism include the fire escape, as an escape from the family, the phonograph, as an escape from reality, the unicorn, as a symbol for Lauras uniqueness and the father’s photograph, representing something different to each character. Through recognition of these symbols, a greater understanding of the play’s theme is achieved. Throughout