In the three plays by Tennessee Williams the Glass Menagerie, The Long Goodbye, and Suddenly Last Summer, they all share the same general theme. This theme is that no matter how low you are in your life you can always rise above your problems and get your life on the right track. In The Glass Menagerie, Laura is the one that has to rise above her disability problem. She overplays her disability and this is what is holding her down from going onto bigger and better things. In The Long Goodbye, Joe thinks he just can’t write anymore in the beginning, but in the end he comes through, and rises above his writing problems. In Suddenly Last Summer, the main character, Mrs. Venable is suffering from the tragedy of losing her son, so she tried to blame her loss on Catherine. This also relates to Tennessee Williams’ life when he was younger. Older children mistreated Tennessee when he was young because he was a little different from the other children. After this happened he started to write, and express his emotions through words rather than fighting back and getting into trouble. He rose above his problems when he was young, and this characteristic is shown in his three plays previously listed.
In the first of the three plays, The Glass Menagerie, Laura expresses the theme of you can overcome your obstacles in life no matter how hard they seem, by her actions. She has a disability with her legs and had to wear a special support on her leg to help her with it. She overplays her disability to the point that she will not go to Business College, she is very shy around other people, and will barely leave the apartment at all. You know how much Laura is bothered by her disability by this quote. ” It was hardly even noticeable.” Said Jim. ” I just thought it was making a thunderous clumping noise.” By this quote, you now see that Laura is exaggerating her disability in her mind, and in actuality it isn’t that drastic. Jim tells her that it wasn’t noticed by most of the kids, but she made it much bigger than it really was. You can also see how shy she is by this next quote. ” You answer the door mother!” This quote shows how shy that Laura is, that she will not even answer the door when Jim comes for dinner. Tennessee is unlike Laura in the aspect that he overcame his problems and Laura does not. She had a small disability years ago, that has healed, and she exaggerates it so much that her life is being held up. This example just shows you that you have to cope with your problems or they can hold you up from progressing in life.
In the next play, The Long Goodbye, there is one character who is obviously the supporter of the universal theme that you can always beat the odds and come out on top of your problems. This character is Joe. Joe’s attitude in the beginning of the play is not looking very good at all. His attitude can be shown very well by this quote. ” I just can’t make any sense with my writings anymore.” The word can’t is the main word in this quote, because when you say you can’t, that usually means I won’t. Whenever you are trying to achieve a goal or a standard, the most negative word you can say is I can’t. That is why Joe’s attitude is looking so glum. Joe is not like Laura and didn’t give up right away, and tried hard to get back up after he was knocked down. This is shown by what his sister says in this quote. ” I knew you could do it Joe, and you did, because you didn’t give up.”
(I, iii, pg. 28) This quote shows how, even though Joe was down he was not out. Another factor in Joe’s ending success might be credited to his sister. Without his sister, he would have had no support, and without that he might have not been able to come through after he was down. Joe was like Williams, in that they both overcame serious problems and succeeded in achieving their goal. Williams rose above the bullies, because he did not lower himself to the bully’s level and try to fight back. Joe is a good
example of Tennessee’s younger years when he was picked on by bullies, but rose above them and succeeded. This shows how even though the odds are against someone if they strive to succeed hard enough they can succeed.
In the last play, Suddenly Last Summer, Mrs. Venable is the one that has to conquer her problems. The main problem that Mrs. Venable has to cope with is the death of her son, Sebastian. She is looking for someone to blame and the person she thinks of is Catherine, Sebastian’s fianc e. ” She is responsible for Sebastian’s death!” (I i 12) Instead of coping with the loss of her son like an adult, she is trying to blame it on someone to sooth her wounds. Not only is she trying to blame someone who is innocent, it is someone who her son loved and who loved her son. Her son would be very disappointed if he knew what was going on with his mother and fianc e. Along with blaming Catherine for her loss, Mrs. Venable was trying to have a special operation on Catherine to make her not be mentally ill, even though she really isn’t. Mrs. Venable is rich and said that Catherine was disturbed so everyone agreed with her. The surgery is very risky also, but that does not seem to bother Mrs. Venable at all, she just wants to have someone pay for her son’s death. You find out how risky the procedure is by the way the doctor talks about it: ” My work is such a new and radical thing that people are scared to fund it.” (I i 29) When the doctor says that people are scared of the operation, that shows how risky it is. That shows how much revenge that Mrs. Venable is seeking, and how she does not care who she hurts as long as she believes that she will be happier. Mrs. Venable is much like Laura, in that neither of them could overcome their obstacles in life. Tennessee Williams is a direct contrast from Mrs. Venable. When Williams was being picked on he did not seek revenge, or retaliation, on the other hand Mrs. Venable did. When she found out that her son had died, she wanted someone to blame and suffer for her loss, because she could not just handle the fact that his death was an accident. Mrs. Venable is a bad representation for someone that is trying to cope with her problems logically. Not only is she hurting herself, she is affecting the lives of others as well.
The three main characters in the plays, Laura, Joe, and Mrs. Venable, all have a relation to Tennessee Williams’ life. When Tennessee was younger, there was a group of bullies that made fun of Williams, because he did not act like all of the other kids. When he was made fun of, he acted very maturely, he just ignored them. It also helped that he could always resort to his writings to express his inner feelings and thoughts. This helped because instead of fighting and getting in trouble, he would just put his feelings on paper. The only character that also learned how to cope with his problems is Joe, who overcame his problems and succeeded in his writings. Joe is unlike both of the other characters Laura and Mrs. Venable, because they both could not handle the problems that were subjected to them in their life. Laura overreacted about her disability and could not handle that problem, and that held her life down. Mrs. Venable could not cope with the loss of her only child, and seeked revenge against anyone she thought was responsible. That was why she could not cope with her problems. So, Williams’ life is similar to Joe’s because of their ability to conquer their problems.
In conclusion, although not all of the characters could successfully defeat the obstacles brought against them, they had a choice of what to do. They just could not handle the pressure that problem solving presents. First of all there is Laura: she did have a problem with her leg, but that went away and she still makes it a factor in her life. If she could have just put that in her past, she would be much better off. Next is Mrs. Venable, she did have a very depressing event in her life, but she goes too far when she tries to make a doctor perform surgery on her. She wants the doctor to do this because she feels as though Catherine is responsible for her son’s death. Last but not least is Joe. He is the only one who could actually overcome his problems successfully. Although he wanted to quit in the beginning, he persisted and finally could express his thoughts clearly on paper and got his book published. Tennessee Williams related his life to these three plays, in that he had to conquer problems that arose when he was younger. In life everyone has problems, the difference between the successful and the unsuccessful is how they cope with those problems.
Другие работы по теме:
Power Vs Powerless Essay Research Paper The
Power Vs. Powerless Essay, Research Paper The Idea of Male Power vs. Female Powerlessness in ?The Young Housewife? ?The Young Housewife? is a poem by William Carlos Williams that deals with many issues. One of the main issues that this poem deals with is the conflict between male power and female powerlessness.
Roger Williams Essay Research Paper One of
Roger Williams Essay, Research Paper One of the most notable people of the colonial era in America was Roger Williams. Born in London, England; educated at the University of Cambridge, he became one of the key players in the Religious controversies of his time. In February of 1631, Roger Williams immigrated to New England as a refuge for the persecuted Puritans of England.
Southern Colour Essay Research Paper Southern
Southern Colour Essay, Research Paper Southern Colour In the anthology, Stories of the Modern South, two stories demonstrate themes typical to that of the South during the time following the Civil War. These two stories, Children on Their Birthdays by Truman Capote, and The Yellow Bird by Tennessee Williams, share common ideas, existing in Southern society at this time.
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” .
Expository Essay On
‘A Street Car Named Desire’ Essay, Research Paper A Streetcar Named Desire By: Tennessee Williams One of the main themes expressed by Tennessee Williams in his play, A Streetcar Named Desire, is to condemn those who display cruelty and harshness in their treatment of others, especially those who are weak and vulnerable.
A Streetcar Essay Research Paper Directing ConceptTennessee
A Streetcar Essay, Research Paper Directing Concept: Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire brings reality to a woman in desperate need of attention. In the production that this design team will put together from the lights to the set will be created a colorful outlook on life from the view of Blanche DuBois.
Stellar Stella Essay Research Paper Stellar StellaAfter
Stellar Stella Essay, Research Paper Stellar Stella After the reading of a play entitled A Streetcar Named Desire, written by Tennessee Williams, there was quite a discussion on what women thought of as the ideal man. Was Stanley Kawalski the type of guy women secretly yearned for their whole lives? Although many responses came up, a few questions were not mentioned: What makes the ideal woman? What is it that attracts men to women? Stanley Kawalski may be the ideal ?macho? man, but what about his wife, Stella? Upon closer investigation, I have concluded that indeed Stella is the ideal woman.
Tennessee Williams Research Paper Essay Research Paper
Tennessee Lanier Williams was born on March 26, 1911 in Columbus, Mississippi. He was the second child of Cornelius Coffin and Edwina Dakin Williams. The family lived in Clarksdale, Mississippi for some time before moving to St. Louis in 1918. At 16 he won third prize for an essay he wrote and received $5. One year later he published “The Vengeance of Nitocris” in Weird Tales.
Critisism Of Tennesse Williams Essay Research Paper
Tennessee Williams plays were influenced by the events of his life, which include his illness, his sister s breakdown, his family relations, his reaction to fame, and also his relationships with men and women. The personal events that took place in his life were depicted in his setting, events, themes, and characterization in his plays.
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,
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.
A Streetcar Named Desire As Related To
Setiing Essay, Research Paper A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams uses setting to illustrate various themes and messages as they pertain to the events of the play. The setting plays a crucial role in the story line and the outcome of the play.
Crucible Lying Essay Research Paper Notes for
Crucible Lying Essay, Research Paper Notes for an essay on human weaknesses that are prominent in the Crucible Lying (pg. 10 – Abigail Williams) Abigail lied to Parris when he asked if she had
Tennessee Williams
’s Life Story Essay, Research Paper Tennessee Williams’s Life Story Tennessee Williams’ play, The Glass Menagerie, originated in the memory of Williams. Williams’ family embodied his father, Cornelius Williams, his mother, Edwina Dakin Williams, his sister, Rose Williams, and his younger brother, Dakin Williams.
The Glass Managerie Essay Research Paper Tennessee
The Glass Managerie Essay, Research Paper Tennessee Williams is well known for the use of symbols in her plays. Symbol or symbolism is when an object, a thing, a person, an animal or anything tangible represents an abstract idea. In the play The Glass Managerie, Tennessee successfully uses a variety
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.
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.
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.
Illiad Essay Research Paper The Illiad has
Illiad Essay, Research Paper The Illiad has by far endured the test of time due to the relation of ancient Greek themes to that of modern day. An abundance of themes from Homer?s era can clearly be observed in today?s society such as emotion, war, and honor. These themes are portrayed throughout the book in various passages, speeches, and dialogue.
Al Gore Essay Research Paper Albert Gore
Al Gore Essay, Research Paper Albert Gore, Jr., b. Washington, D.C., March. 31, 1948, a U.S. representative (1977-1985) and senator (1985-1992) from Tennessee, was elected to the vice- precidency oh the United States on a Democtratic ticket with Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas in 1992. he is the son of Albert Gore, Sr., who was also a congressman (1953-1971).
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.
Literature Essay- A StreetCar Named Desire By
Tennessee Willi Essay, Research Paper Junior English Midterm ?Literature Essay ?A Street Car Named Desire? by Tennessee Williams Q: Discuss the theme of reality vs. illusion as it applies to this play.
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Essay
, Research Paper “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof,” written by Tennessee Williams is a brilliant play about a dysfunctional family that is forces to deal with hidden deceptions and hypocrisy.
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.
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 Red Wheelbarrow Essay Research Paper William
The Red Wheelbarrow Essay, Research Paper William Carlos Williams was an imagist poet; he wanted to revision poetry in America. His whole theme dealed with visions and images. He opposed general statements and abstract ideas. His poem “The Red Wheelbarrow” was filled with images and ideas that made the poem so easy to visualize.
Scoop Essay Research Paper Tennessee Williams 1911
Scoop Essay, Research Paper Tennessee Williams (1911 ? 1983) Thomas Lanier Williams was born on March 26, 1911 in Columbus, Mississippi. The second of three children, his family life was full of tension. His parents, a shoe salesman and the daughter of a minister, often engaged in violent arguments that frightened his sister Rose.
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”.