Essay about Analysis of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams

I have seen several plays throughout my life and several of those I have also seen on television or the movies. The difference to me is the intimacy. With a play, I feel as if I am there, maybe watching out my window and spying on what is happening with my neighbors. It feels as if it is more real, something that could be happening and not a fantasy. In this play, you are seeing into their apartment and just outside, so while

background. The theme of the play is a reality and appearance of two people that are so

Craig Martin, author of A Critical Introduction to the Study of Religion, defines “functionalism” as an approach where scholars “look for a particular function religion might play in society” (8). Religion plays a large function around the world and for all people, regardless if one is religious or not. In the case of Dennis Covington, the religious ritual of snake handling has impacted his life greatly, most plausibly serving the function of simply creating excitement in his life. Although no one can truly tell if someone’s faith is genuine or not, there is evidence that makes it appear as though Covington is more-so involved with the religious ritual of snake-handling for the exhilaration over a deep faith and belief in it. This may not ring true for all of the other snake-handling religion practitioners, although it’d be reasonable to assume that it does for the majority.

The masterful use of symbolism is delightfully ubiquitous in Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie.” He uses a collection of dim, dark and shadowy symbols that constantly remind the audience of the lost opportunity each of these three characters continually experience. This symbolism is not only use to enlighten the audience to their neglected opportunities to shine, but it is also repeatedly utilized to reinforce the ways in which the characters try in vain to cross over turbulent waters into a world of light and clarity. It is thematically a wrenching story of life gone by, and the barren attempts to realize another reality that is made more poignant by symbolic language, objects, setting, lighting and music. The characters are

What is a main theme or idea this play brings up? What does it say about that theme? Use details from the play to provide evidence.

Rowlandson’s captivity novel is one of the first of its kind coupled with John Smith’s personal accounts. The concept of the captivity narrative revolves around the protagonist being torn away from their current life and thrust into one of danger and enslavement. The new and unwanted ways of life often brought turmoil upon those it was thrust upon leading them to hate their existence and many would live their final moments in them. Bridget Bennett’s opinion therefore that Mary Rowlandson perhaps came to enjoy her existence amongst the Indians who enslaved her seems controversial and it’s an opinion I personally disagree with.

A play in which the central character experiences both inner and conflict with other characters is "The Diary of Anne Frank" It is based on true events that occurred from 1933-1945 through the vision of Anne, a young and bubbly girl who was the victim of the Holocaust.

   Tennessee Williams' play, The Glass Menagerie, describes three separate characters, their dreams, and the harsh realities they face in a modern world.  The Glass Menagerie exposes the lost dreams of a southern family and their desperate struggle to escape reality. Williams' use of symbols adds depth to the play. The glass menagerie itself is a symbol Williams uses to represent the broken lives of Amanda, Laura and Tom Wingfield and their inability to live in the present.

Who are the main characters in the play? How are the characters related through the plot of the play?

The setting for the play takes place in Alphabet City New York in the early 1990’s where diseases like AIDS and poverty for the community was at an all-time high. This tragic situation left some members of the community with no jobs, food, or homes to survive with. Some individuals through the play experienced different endeavors from dealing with finding themselves to learning how to excel at a film career. The struggles they faced in the city made for a good setting and situation to highlight the adversities people living in Alphabet City endured during that

Written in 1944, Tennessee Williams wrote a play during World War II when people were barely making ends meet. Centering on the Wingfield family, the story consisted of five characters: Amanda Wingfield (the mother), Laura Wingfield (the daughter), Tom Wingfield (son, narrator, Laura’s older brother), Jim Connor (Tom and Laura’s old acquaintance from high school) and Mr. Wingfield (father to Tom and Laura, and Amanda’s husband)- who abandoned the family long before the start of the play. The title, “The Glass Menagerie”, represented a collection of glass animals on display in the Wingfields’ home. At one point or another, these animals then represented each character when they couldn’t accept reality. The theme of this play were about the

Laura Wingfield has chosen to hide from reality in the play The Glass Menagerie. She seems to live in a world of her own, and hides from everything and everyone outside of the apartment. Laura is terrified of anything new or different. Her mother sent her to business college, but Laura was so afraid that ‘The first time [they] gave a speed-test, she broke down completely – was sick at the stomach and almost had to be carried into the wash –room.’ (p 243). Laura uses her limp as an excuse to hide from the world. She believes that her slight limp makes her crippled and that she cannot be a part of the real world because of it. Laura’s glass menagerie and the victrola act as things which protect her from the real world in the play. Whenever she is

Identify the complete title and author’s name and give the date of publication of the play. Give a brief summary of the plot.

Every time Tom sees "…a piece of transparent glass…" (1310), or hears "…a familiar bit of music" (1310) he is reminded of Laura. So in the end, Tom isn't successful at escaping his realities. It is in the actual escape that he fails the most because he can't forget Laura. Amanda and Laura are the most pitiful characters in the play. Their methods of escape consist of what goes on inside their heads. Laura escapes through her menagerie. "[Laura's] glass collection takes up a good deal of [her] time" (1303). Laura is so engrossed with taking care of her glass collection that she forgets to live her life. Laura also hides behind her disability. She even admits that the brace on her leg "…sort of --stood between [her]-[and making friends]" (1301). Laura never tries to do anything but live in a reality where she is afraid of everything. Amanda however isn't afraid of anything except not being taken care of. Amanda also lives in a make-believe reality. In Amanda's mind she is still a girl receiving "gentlemen callers" (1270). Even when Laura is to receive a caller, Amanda gets more dressed up than Laura. Amanda even refuses to acknowledge that Laura is "…crippled" (1275). She illustrates this point by saying "…you're not crippled, you just have a little defect-hardly noticeable, even!" (1275). In Amanda's world men are still nice and polite, unlike her son Tom. There are no

Throughout each life stage I have encountered weather it being the past future or present I have faced and will face changes. The changes are influenced by the developmental stage, developmental tasks, psychosocial crisis, and central process for resolving crisis, radius of significant relationships, and the coping strategies I have adapted to. Within these aspects previously listed that have influenced me in the past, present, and in the future I have successes and barriers that have also shaped me into the person I am in my present stage. By way of example, the psychosexual theory and the social learning theory draw relation to my development and experiences that have shaped my development through my life stages. Upon the early adolescence, later adolescence, and early adulthood life stages I have encountered have helped structure the development I have in my present life stage.