Glass Menagerie Essay, Research Paper
In Tennessee Williams’ play The Glass Menagerie, 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 a link to a world of illusion. Just a few of these are the fire escape, the movies, and even more important, Laura’s glass unicorn. Williams uses numerous representations in his play to create a more elaborate story for the reader. Some are very subtle such as the blue roses flashed across the screen. These may represent the melancholy attitude of Laura. Many, however are much more glaring.
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. While it may be a symbol of passage to all the charachters, it seems to have an individualized meaning to each of them as well. For Tom, the fire escape is the way out of the world of Amanda and Laura and an entrance into the world of reality. For Laura, the fire escape is a way into her world. A way to escape from reality. Both examples can readily be seen: Tom will stand outside on the fire escape to smoke, showing that he does not like to be inside, he would rather venture out into the world. As Tom seeks a route outward, Laura, thinks of the fire escape as a way into her own private place where she is safe from reality. This can be seen when Amanda sends Laura to go to the store and Laura trips on the fire escape. She uses it much more directly to shield her from the harsh world that she despises. This also shows that Laura’s fears and emotions greatly affect her physical condition, and perhaps even begin to throw doubt on the degree of her handicap.
Another symbol presented deals more with Tom than any of the other characters. This is Tom’s habit of going to the movies. It shows us his longing to leave the apartment and head out into the world away from the confines of the same rooms he has always known. A place where one can find adventure and romance. And Tom, being a poet, can understand the longing men sometimes have for adventure and romance. A similar symbol is the poster of the Merchant Marines, which Tom aspires to join. He is kept from realizing his ambitions by Amanda, who criticizes him for being a “selfish dreamer.” But, Tom has made steps to escape from his monotonous life by transferring the payment of a light bill to pay for his dues in the Merchant Seaman’s Union.
Still another symbol, which deals with both Amanda and Laura, is Jim O’Connor. To Laura, Jim represents her greatest fear, reality. She is so scared of facing up to life that she runs from any responsibility or connection to the outside world. Jim is a perfect example of “the common man.” A person with no real outstanding quality. In fact, Jim is rather awkward, which can be seen when he dances with Laura. To Amanda, Jim represents the days of her youth, when she went frolicking about picking jonquils and relishing in her “seventeen gentlemen callers on one Sunday afternoon.” Although Amanda desires to see Laura settled down with a nice young man, it is easy to see that she wanted a gentleman caller to be invited for Laura so she could live vicariously through her and remember what it felt like to be wanted.
One of the most obvious symbols is Laura’s glass menagerie. Her collection of glass animals represents her own private world. Set apart from reality, a place where she can hide and be safe. The events that happen to Laura’s glass affects Laura’s emotional state greatly. When Amanda tells Laura to practice typing, Laura instead plays with her glass. When Amanda is heard walking up the fire escape, she quickly hides her collection. She does this to hide her secret world from the others. When Tom leaves to go to the movies in an angered rush, he accidentally breaks some of Laura’s glass. The shattered glass represents Laura’s understanding of Tom’s responsibilities toward her. She understands that she is one the main reasons he can not live him life the way he wants to. Also, it is not just a coincidence that the piece involved was the unicorn, which represents Laura directly. Laura points out to Jim that the unicorn is different, just as she is different. She also points out that the unicorn does not complain of being different, as she does not complain either. And when Jim breaks the horn off the unicorn, Laura points out that now it is like the other horses, just as Laura has shed some of her shyness and become more normal. When she hands the broken unicorn to Jim, this might represent Laura handing over her shattered love of him, because he has revealed that he is engaged to be married.
As can be seen, there are more than just a few symbols in this play. A number of them have very intricate meanings. A great many of them have a direct relation to events in the author’s own life. It is easy to understand why Williams chose to write this as a memory play since he was using many of his own memories. It is obvious that this memory play is based on Williams’ own memories and that he feels linked to Tom. The play is filled with objects and visions that Williams uses to contribute to the recurring themes and motives of the play. His use of symbolism is, indeed, very effective.
Другие работы по теме:
Lauren Essay Research Paper The Glass Menagerie
Lauren Essay, Research Paper The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a touching play about the lost dreams of a southern family and their struggle to escape reality. The play is a memory play and therefore very poetic in mood, setting, and dialogue. Tom Wingfield serves as the narrator as well as a character in the play.
Tennesse Williams
’s Autobiographical Plays Essay, Research Paper Tennessee Williams incorporates numerous aspects of his life in his plays; The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire illustrate these autobiographical tendencies. He once said, “My work is emotionally autobiographical. It has no relationship to the actual events of my life, but it reflects the emotional currents of my life” .
Comparing
“The Glass Meangerie”, “Death Of A Salesman” And “A Raisin In The Sun” Essay, Research Paper In the stories, ?The Glass Menagerie?, ?Death of A Salesman?, and ?Raisin in the Sun?, there are many things in common. The most common thing in all of them I felt was how all the families all had ?American? problems. In ?The Glass Menagerie?, the ?American? problem was a family dealing with an ill member.
The Glass Menagerie And The Conflict Between
Happines And Responsibility Essay, Research Paper An individual’s right to be happy and its conflict with an individual’s responsibilities is a common personal problem. Many people must make the choice between the two daily. Most people have a set opinion of whether responsibility or happiness should prevail.
The Glass Meragerie Essay Research Paper The
The Glass Meragerie Essay, Research Paper ?The Glass Menagerie?, is a adorable little play written be Tennessee Williams. The play takes place in tiny apartment, behind an ally,
Glass Menageie Essay Research Paper In The
Glass Menageie Essay, Research Paper In The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, the glass figurine of the unicorn plays an inherently important role as a representation of Laura’s self esteem. The collection of glass figurines is used by Laura to escape from the dangers of the outside world. The unicorn is the central piece to her collection and is important because it directly symbolizes Laura.
Glass Menagerie 2
Glass Menagerie – Symbolism Of The Unicorn Essay, Research Paper The symbolism of the unicorn has two very different meanings. One of the symbols is happiness and love. The other one symbols sadness and hatred. You first come into contact with the unicorn when Jim sees it. This is where the first symbolism comes into place.
Our Town By Thorton Wilder And The
Glass Menagerie By Tennessee Williams Essay, Research Paper When I compared Our Town by Thorton Wilder and The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams I noticed a lot of differences and very few similarities. I noticed differences in the roles that the mothers played in each of the stories, and the impact that the father had on the family.
Comparing A Streetcar Named Desire
And The Glass Menagerie Essay, Research Paper A Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menageries were written by Tennessee William in the late Thirties, where the depression made countless of people struggled in poverty. Both of the plays used the typical American family during the Thirties as the background setting.
Indulging In Escapism Essay Research Paper Indulging
Indulging In Escapism Essay, Research Paper Indulging in Escapism In The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams presents us with a Family whose lives seem to be trapped in avoiding reality instead of facing it. The play, which is much like our own lives, is constantly pointing out ways of escaping. The characters in the play each try to find there way to escape but find that they continue to tangle themselves into there problems even more.
Escape Essay Research Paper In The Glass
Escape Essay, Research Paper In The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams uses the theme of escape to portray the inutility and disparity of each of the character?s dreams. The Glass Menagerie takes place in the small, ghetto apartment of the Wingfield family. Poverty is what has trapped them in their meager living quarters.
The Glass Menagerie Essay Research Paper Worlds
The Glass Menagerie Essay, Research Paper Worlds of Escape In The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams creates a world in which the characters escape from the present situation. The characters, Laura, Amanda, and Tom Wingfield, achieve this by creating their own world in which they can escape to. Each world consists of an imaginary place where the feeling of security is present.
Macbeth Essay Research Paper The Glass Menagerie
Macbeth Essay, Research Paper The Glass Menagerie By Tennessee Williams 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 Glass Menagerie 2 Essay Research Paper
In The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams uses various types of symbolism. He uses the symbols to develop character and theme, to elaborate on what the characters aspire to be, and to identify what they actually are. Laura Wingfield is a very complex and important character to the play. It is from her that the name of the play derives from, being that she is the owner of the menagerie.
The Glass Menagerie Essay Research Paper In
The Glass Menagerie Essay, Research Paper In The Glass Menagerie there was a character that was alienated. Writers often highlight the values of a culture or a society by using characters who
Glass Menagerie Essay Research Paper Who is
Glass Menagerie Essay, Research Paper Who is the Main Character in The Glass Menagerie Who is the main character in The Glass Menagerie ? This is the question that many people contemplate about since there is a number of characters who are fit for the part. To help figure out exactly who the main character is, think about what is a protagonist? A protagonist is defined as the principal character in a literary work or a leading actor, character, or participant in a literary work or real event.
Glass Menagerie Essay Research Paper In The
Glass Menagerie Essay, Research Paper In The Glass Menagerie, Tom Wingfield is perhaps the most prominent character. He is burdened with not only being a main character of the play but the narrator as well. He is given the unenviable task of being the voice of reason in the Wingfield house. Almost every action of his reveals an important detail about his personality and motivation.
Tennessee Williams Essay Research Paper Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams Essay, Research Paper Tennessee Williams was born Thomas Lanier Williams on March 26, 1911 in Columbus, Mississippi. As a child, he lived with his mother and grandfather. When he was fourteen, Williams too first place in an essay contest sponsored by a national magazine, The Smart Set.
Maturity Levels In Characters Essay Research Paper
Maturity levels increase and decrease in characters in works of literature and also throughout one’s real life. It’s hard for the maturity level of the person to stay the same. Ron Jones’ The Acorn People, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh clearly show the degree of maturity in characters in a work of literature.
Escapism In The Glass Memagerie Essay Research
Paper Escapism in The Glass Menagerie In The Glass Menagerie for Tennessee Williams characters, escape for the characters is clearly defined by the aura of the memory play . Each of them, Laura, Tom and Amanda, transpose their difficult situations into shadows of the truth.
Tennessee Williams S The Glass Menagerie Essay
, Research Paper In Tennessee Williams s original script of The Glass Menagerie, he explains that there is much to admire in Amanda, and as much to love and pity as there is to laugh at. This statement explains Tom s view of Amanda at that point in time. He feels that she admirable, lovable, capable of being laughed at, and felt pity for at the same time.
The Glass Menagerie Essay Research Paper Tennessee
Williams? The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams is one the major writers of the mid-twentieth century. He has written plays like The Glass Managerie and A Streetcar Named Desire. The common theme of The Glass Menagerie is that hopeful aspirations are followed by inevitable disappointments. This theme is common throughout all of Williams? books and throughout his own life as well.
The Glass Menagerie Essay Research Paper Symbolism
The Glass Menagerie Essay, Research Paper Symbolism is a major aspect in Tennessee William’s 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.
William
’s Use Of Symbolism In The Glass Menagerie Essay, Research Paper Williams’ Use of Symbolism in “The Glass Menagerie” Tennessee Williams’ play “The Glass Menagerie” over the years has become a classic. It is a true story in which Williams, places himself as the narrator and one of the main characters of the play.
The Use Of Symbolism In The Glass
Menagerie Essay, Research Paper Symbolism is an aspect used in several novels of today’s and yesterday’s world. In the book, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Willams, symbols are a major part of this play. As Tom, the narrator, is a poet, and admits he has a weakness for symbols. There are three
Glass Menagerie 2 Essay Research Paper Glass
Glass Menagerie 2 Essay, Research Paper Glass Menagerie Everyone has their own little world in which they indulge themselves in whether it be real or just a fantasy. In The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, everyone in the play experiences their own little world, and the shock it is to be thrown from it.
The Glass Menagerie Essay Research Paper First
The Glass Menagerie Essay, Research Paper First of all, I liked the way that The Glass Menagerie was not specifically dated. What I mean by this, is even though the play was written in the forties, today we (people in general), can still relate to some of the issues in it. Like take for example the disability issue.
The Glass Menagerie Essay Research Paper Rich
The Glass Menagerie Essay, Research Paper Rich SpadacciniFifth Period March 31, 1996 The Glass Menagerie ?The Glass Menagerie? by Tennessee Williams shows the struggle of two people to fit into society, Tom and Laura, and how society wouldn?t accept them. They were the dreamers that were unjustly kept out and you may even go as far as to say persecuted into staying out and aloof like the other dreamers which are forced to become outcasts and not contribute to the actions of all.
Glass Menagerie 2 Essay Research Paper
“The Glass Menagerie”, “Blue Mountain”, “The Fire Escape” and “The Unicorn” are symbols in the ” Glass Menagerie” Discuss Williams use of these symbols in the “Glass Menagerie”.
Symbolism In 2
Symbolism In “The Glass Menagerie” Essay, Research Paper Throughout “The Glass Menagerie”, Tennessee Williams utilizes a variety of symbols. The symbols create innusual vibes that make the entire play. The symbols range from the jonquils to the unicorn.