, Research Paper
Judgement Call
What is a good mother? Many people would immediately think of the cheery, bright-eyed, always willing to help her kids type portrayed on television oh so often. If so, then what is a bad mother? Could it be someone like the wicked stepmother in Cinderella? It might be a somewhat less mean spirited person like Peggy Bundy, but then again, even she came through for her children occasionally. Overall, a good mother ought to possess qualities such as caring about what her children want or need, being there for her children when they need a shoulder to cry on but backing off when they want to be left alone, and most of all, she must not superimpose on her children and attempt to use them as tools for any reason. One should realize that children are human beings too, at all ages. Amanda Wingfield possessed none of these qualities. She had her own intentions for her children, and was determined to have her children live these out.
To be successful in raising a child, one must always take into consideration what the child itself wants. There is no use in trying to raise a child to be something that it has no intention of being. This is something of a common occurrence, and it is unfortunate how many young dreams are smashed by parents who want “only the best” for their children. Not every child is destined for fame and fortune. Many may simply wish to lead a happy, mundane life much like Laura. Amanda fails to realize that she is putting Laura through hell with her gentlemen callers and her nagging about the typing class that Laura did not want to attend in the first place. Amanda wants Laura to want what she herself wanted, and although parents raise their children and in that children inherit some of their parents’ tendencies, they will not grow up to be exactly as their parents were, no matter how hard a parent may try to make it so. Furthermore, Amanda never even attempts to understand Tom on any level. She simply expects him to conform with all of her wishes. By her logic, since she does not like the fact that he goes to movies, Tom should not go to see movies. If his life were clay for her hands to mold, she would have him home every night, or possibly out looking for “gentleman callers” for Laura to marry. She fails to realize that her children are people too, and in that aspect, she is a failure as a mother.
At times, it may be hard to distinguish when one is truly needed, and when it is appropriate to just leave somebody alone. A good mother ought to be able to realize this eventually and not to pick and persist with obviously annoying demands and questions. When a person is having a bad day, sometimes they would love to have someone to gripe to, but often they know in their hearts that the trouble will come to pass with time. It takes someone completely oblivious not to know when to ease up a little, but Amanda Wingfield does that often. For example, when Laura did not want to go to school anymore because the testing rattled her nerves and she was sick all over the place, (something that would be mortifying to a normal person, let alone someone who is extremely shy), Amanda had the nerve to sit there and complain how she should go back. One could argue that in her own mind, Amanda was simply being supportive, but in Laura’s eyes, it was nagging. Furthermore, after Amanda and Tom reconciled at the breakfast table the morning after he had exploded at her, all seemed to be in order. For once, Amanda was doing something right. However, she decided to persist with her “helpful” little tidbits of advice, and that ended up setting her several steps back in her amiable relationship with him. If she had known when to back off, chances are they would have become closer and closer and the tale may have had a much happier ending.
Few people enjoy the feeling of being a puppet, especially if the strings are attached to the hand of someone who never fails to fall on their nerves. Parents have a certain responsibility to raise their children right, but this task should not be confused with forcing one’s children to become a perfect facsimile of the parent. One aspect of human nature is being an individual, and that is directly correlated with acting for oneself. If someone stands up for what they believe in, that is completely different from imposing it on their children well after their children are old enough to decide and come to conclusions on their own. Amanda Wingfield fails at this aspect of parenting as well; in a vain attempt to relive her glory days as a young belle, she thrusts the memory of her former life upon Laura with hopes that she can somehow live vicariously through her. In actuality, the idea of living vicariously through one’s children, when pushed well beyond the limit, is a pipe dream. Amanda does not realize that she and Laura are two very different people, and that they are living in a different day. “Gentleman callers” no longer flock to the homes of young ladies, especially not ones with the obvious problems with which Laura had to deal. After all, she was an extremely shy, introverted person with an inferiority complex, and the way Amanda went about doing things only fed the fire. Also, her leverage on controlling Tom was her constantly reminding him that he was like his father and how awful it would be for things to turn out that way, but because of her dazed and oblivious nature, that is exactly what ended up happening anyhow. Had she been a good mother, there would not be a chance of Tom’s leaving, because she would have realized that what happened was not really his fault in the first place, and that it did not hurt Laura too much anyhow.
Perhaps, in an obscure sort of way, Amanda meant well with all of the troubles she put her children through, but someone would have to have been very unaware, or just very uncaring toward the feelings of others to have done what she did. As it has so often been said before “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” She may have thought she was doing them a favor by acting the way she did, but after twenty or more years of doing so, and still no real successes as a mother, one would think she would come to the conclusion that maybe she was not doing things properly, and that maybe she should apologize and attempt to be better from then on in. She did not. Instead, she drove Tom away, leaving an empty gap in her own life, and that of Laura. A good mother would not have made her son run out of her life like that. She did not give him a chance from the start . . . she was determined to have things her way or the highway, and in the end, Tom took the highway out of there.
While Amanda was not a mean spirited individual, she failed at all the tasks set out for a mother to face. She did not raise a functional family, she let her son run out of her life, she forced her standards and former way of living on her daughter and worst of all, she manipulated her kids to live through them (or off of them as was the case with Tom). Supposing one read the play thoroughly, it is hard to believe that one could possibly think otherwise of Amanda. She is a self- serving, uncaring woman who needed a good bite of a reality sandwich, which sadly enough, she did not get until it was too late.
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.
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.
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.
Symbolism In The Glass Menagerie Essay Research
Paper Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie The Glass Menagerie uses an extensive pattern of symbolism that describes the characters of Tom,Amanda,Laura and Jim.Glass,light,color and music constitute the substance of the dominant
Illusion Of The American Dream Essay Research
Paper The Illusion of the American Dream The American Dream is what all Americans strive to achieve. It is the illusion of prosperity and happiness. The American Dream consists of three different elements, money, sex, and power. The plays “Death of a Salesman” and “The Glass Menagerie” are about families who strive to achieve the American Dream.
Glass Menagerie Essay Research Paper In Tennessee
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.
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.