There are many symbols in classic literature, but those used in The Glass Menagerie, are particularly unique. The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a play about the reflections of Mr. Wingfield, a man who abandoned his family in order to pursue his own future. In the play, Williams uses many symbols that signify many different things. Many of the symbols used in the play are used to symbolize some form of escape or distinction between reality and illusion. The entire play is centered around abandonment which started with the Laura and Tom’s father leaving the family when they were just children, the use of technology’s advancement represents the outside world and Mr. Wingfield with his telephone company fell in love with the long distances
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It bridges a fantasy world with the reality of everyday life at home. But the illusion varies between characters. For Tom, the fire escape is the way he escapes the harsh reality of being the lone provider for Amanda and Laura and an entrance into a world of new dimensions. For Laura, the fire escape is the way she enters a world in which she is considered normal. Amanda see’s the fire escape as a way for gentlemen callers to enter their lives and fill the lonely void in her life left by Mr. Wingfield. In Tom's opening speech he says, "I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion."(Williams 1655) Tennessee Williams’ tells of his own life through Tom with this line. The characters in this play all are constantly trying to find their happy place, attempting to escape into an imaginary fantasy world. In The Glass Menagerie Williams' fire escape portrays each of the character's need to escape the thoughts and reality that torments them each and every …show more content…
Wingfield took a more literal approach to escaping his depressing reality into a “fantasy” world than the rest of the family did by just packing up and running away from the problem he faced. "He worked for the telephone company and fell in love with long distances." This action left Tom with all of the responsibilities in the family including taking care of his nagging mother, Amanda and a physically and socially disabled sister, Laura. With all of the family’s financial responsibilities on Tom's shoulders he is forced to take a job at a warehouse in order to take care of the family. Tom is depressed and disappointed with his life and is always seeking a way to escape the misery that torments him. To Tom, the fire escape serves as a bridge between what he has and what he wants. It separates the endless possibilities of the outside world, from the world that the Wingfields struggle to live in. Tom's way of dealing with his misery is to remove himself from his locale and go to the movies. He claims that he loves the
It bridges a fantasy world with the reality of everyday life at home. But the illusion varies between characters. For Tom, the fire escape is the way he escapes the harsh reality of being the lone provider for Amanda and Laura and an entrance into a world of new dimensions. For Laura, the fire escape is the way she enters a world in which she is considered normal. Amanda see’s the fire escape as a way for gentlemen callers to enter their lives and fill the lonely void in her life left by Mr. Wingfield. In Tom's opening speech he says, "I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion."(Williams 1655) Tennessee Williams’ tells of his own life through Tom with this line. The characters in this play all are constantly trying to find their happy place, attempting to escape into an imaginary fantasy world. In The Glass Menagerie Williams' fire escape portrays each of the character's need to escape the thoughts and reality that torments them each and every …show more content…
Wingfield took a more literal approach to escaping his depressing reality into a “fantasy” world than the rest of the family did by just packing up and running away from the problem he faced. "He worked for the telephone company and fell in love with long distances." This action left Tom with all of the responsibilities in the family including taking care of his nagging mother, Amanda and a physically and socially disabled sister, Laura. With all of the family’s financial responsibilities on Tom's shoulders he is forced to take a job at a warehouse in order to take care of the family. Tom is depressed and disappointed with his life and is always seeking a way to escape the misery that torments him. To Tom, the fire escape serves as a bridge between what he has and what he wants. It separates the endless possibilities of the outside world, from the world that the Wingfields struggle to live in. Tom's way of dealing with his misery is to remove himself from his locale and go to the movies. He claims that he loves the