Symbolism plays a major part in Tennessee William 's famous play, "The Glass Menagerie." Tom Wingfield is the narrator and a major character in “The Glass Menagerie”. Through the Tom’s perception, the reader gets a glance into the life of his family; his mother, a Southern belle clinging to the past; his sister, a young woman who’s too fragile to function in normal society; and himself, a struggling, young poet working at a warehouse to provide for his family. Williams has managed to create a momentous play symbolism. Williams uses symbolism to reveal, in depth, character attributes and what they represent.
In the beginning of the first scene of the play, we are presented a symbol right away which is the fire escape. The fire escape symbolizes …show more content…
For example, this can be seen when Amanda tells Laura to go to the store: Laura trips on the fire escape. "I 'm all right. I slipped, but I 'm all right.” (1173). This action suggests that Laura 's emotions and fears enormously affect her physical condition, even more so than normal people.
The most renounced and most frequently referred to symbol, which is rather obvious, is Laura 's glass menagerie. Laura’s glass collection represents her own private little world which she uses to escape from reality frequently. Her own very own place where she can be concealed and safe. Laura’s emotional state is deeply affected with the events leading up to the shattering of her glass. When Tom breaks her glass menagerie, she is affected tremendously and can be suggested from her reaction. "My glass! - menagerie", "Laura clings weakly to the mantel with her face averted."(1171). The shattering of the glass is Laura’s understanding of what Tom’s responsibilities are to her. More importantly, this event represents Laura directly because it showcased her fragility; it is as if she has broken herself. A further example of this is when Laura talks about the unicorn, she reveals that it is her favorite glass animal, that it is unique from all the
In the beginning of the first scene of the play, we are presented a symbol right away which is the fire escape. The fire escape symbolizes …show more content…
For example, this can be seen when Amanda tells Laura to go to the store: Laura trips on the fire escape. "I 'm all right. I slipped, but I 'm all right.” (1173). This action suggests that Laura 's emotions and fears enormously affect her physical condition, even more so than normal people.
The most renounced and most frequently referred to symbol, which is rather obvious, is Laura 's glass menagerie. Laura’s glass collection represents her own private little world which she uses to escape from reality frequently. Her own very own place where she can be concealed and safe. Laura’s emotional state is deeply affected with the events leading up to the shattering of her glass. When Tom breaks her glass menagerie, she is affected tremendously and can be suggested from her reaction. "My glass! - menagerie", "Laura clings weakly to the mantel with her face averted."(1171). The shattering of the glass is Laura’s understanding of what Tom’s responsibilities are to her. More importantly, this event represents Laura directly because it showcased her fragility; it is as if she has broken herself. A further example of this is when Laura talks about the unicorn, she reveals that it is her favorite glass animal, that it is unique from all the