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Analysis Of The Glass Menagerie

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The Glass Menagerie is a play written by Tennessee Williams. It is mainly about three characters: Tom Wingfield, the narrator; Amanda Wingfield, Tom’s mother; and Laura Wingfield, Tom’s sister. The family is supported by both Tom and Amanda, working at a shoemaking warehouse and selling magazine subscriptions respectively. However, with some things unable to work, Amanda wants Laura to have a man to support both of them, but there are some things that are restraining her from doing so, such as Laura’s disposition. Tom brings a man named Jim O’Connor to satisfy Amanda’s wants, but this, too, does not work out. The Wingfields are all stuck in their own illusions in some way, and Jim is the only escape, coming from the real world. The Glass Menagerie explores many things in the aspects of a dysfunctional family, using contrasts between fantasy and reality. The entire play itself is a mixture of reality and illusions due to the fact that it is a memory play. Tom says in his opening monologue, “I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion… it is sentimental, it is not realistic” (Williams 1707-08; scene 1). The play is based on true and accurate events, but it is from Tom’s memory, so some things are exaggerated more than they should be. Some of the things Tom has experienced may be exaggerated to the point of illusion, such as Amanda’s outbursts throughout the play. The audience does not know the scenario from an outside point of view, but this is Tom’s memory, so

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