The Glass Menagerie
The Glass Menagerie is a play written by Tennessee Williams in the early 1940’s. He creates a play that unfolds from three central characters known as Amanda, Laura, and Tom Wingfield. Each member of the Wingfield family is unable to overcome the difficulty of accepting reality. The writer of the play has shaped many prominent themes that are evident while reading the play or while the play is actually in performance. The most evident of them all is the difficulty the characters have in accepting reality. Amanda Wingfield is the mother of Tom and Laura. She is a troubled woman who seems to live in the past and has a difficulty in accepting reality. Amanda’s constant nagging of Tom is certainly an example of the difficulty she has in accepting reality, “…But I won’t allow such filth brought into my house! No, no, no, no, no.” She constantly nags on Tom for minor problems; which is a sign that she is not mentally stable. Amanda’s relationship to reality seems to be the most complicated among all the characters. Throughout the play Amanda is very desperate for both social and financial success but never accomplishes neither. She cannot accept the fact that she is no not the pampered young girl she was brought up to be, that Laura is crippled, and that Tom is not a businessman. Amanda always states that Laura’s oddness is a “positive thing.” Amanda’s inability to see reality is more pathetic than her children simply because she might be responsible for the sorrows and flaws of her children. Laura Wingfield seems to have withdrawn into her own little world of illusion, in attempt to seek the comfort that the real world does not offer her, her glass menagerie. Laura’s inner life and her collection of glass animals connect very well considering the fact that they are both dangerously delicate. Laura is very shy and sensitive, it does not take much to hurt her feelings like it does not take much to drop and break the glass animals. Laura’s crippled illness has affected her growth tremendously in the real world, being the central cause of her shyness and low self esteems. Laura loses motivation to pursue professional success, romantic relationships, or even ordinary friendships. Of all the three Wingfields, reality has by far the weakest grasp on Laura. Tom Wingfield has the highest chance of functioning and making it in the real world. For example, he works and holds down a job, he has friends, and does not seem to have a problem meeting new people. As time goes by, time begins to feel that taking care of his family is not his responsibility. Tom attempts to escape from his job through movies, literature, and alcohol which becomes the cause of his failure. His mothers consistent nagging is not a help. Although Tom really cares for his family, he is frequently cruel to them. At the end, Tom can only accept the reality of leaving out on his family. Just like his sister, he loses motivation to pursue professional success, romantic relationships, or a social life. It is evident throughout the play that each member of the Wingfield family has their own personal problems; problems that no one can fix. Their difficulty of accepting reality is the bond that kept them together for so long. The Wingfield’s inability to see reality and accept it was the cause of their destruction. When it became time to face reality, neither of the Wingfield’s was prepared, and their consequence was destruction.
Work Cited
Williams, Tennessee. "A Little Literature: Reading, Writing, Argument." The Glass Menagerie.” New York: Peason Education, Inc, 2007. Print.
Cited: Williams, Tennessee. "A Little Literature: Reading, Writing, Argument." The Glass Menagerie.” New York: Peason Education, Inc, 2007. Print.
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