Humans tend to create temporary methods of escape to break free from the true reality of life. In “The Glass Menagerie”, by Tennessee Williams, the main characters are trapped in a difficult life during the depression, which leads them to seek mechanisms of escape from the real world. This desire for escape from reality is an underlying message throughout the play. Laura, Amanda, and Tom each explore different methods of breaking away from the confinement, and they try to transcend the reality of their dissatisfying lives. Laura takes herself out of unwanted situations by suddenly becoming sick, Amanda reminisces about her glory days as a southern belle, and Tom escapes into the adventures displayed in the movies and through the help of alcohol. Tom in particular discovers that escaping the life that one is given is not possible when his guilt takes over after he leaves his family. “The Glass Menagerie” ultimately exemplifies that escape is only temporary and nothing but an illusion.
Each individual responds differently to uncomfortable situations. When Laura is faced with a difficult situation, she is removed due to …show more content…
When life becomes intolerable, Amanda reminiscences about the days of her youth in Blue Mountain and how she had seventeen gentlemen callers on one Sunday afternoon. This is Amanda’s escape mechanism, however, she is incapable of living in this world of illusion forever. The burdens of everyday life force her to face reality. One of these complications is Laura’s lack of a man that can take care of her. She tells Laura, "I know so well what becomes of unmarried women who aren 't prepared to occupy a position." (Williams 16). Amanda prefers to live in the past and recreate her younger days, but she must always come back to the fact that Laura is not like most girls. Amanda discovers that reminiscing about the past is not a perpetual
Each individual responds differently to uncomfortable situations. When Laura is faced with a difficult situation, she is removed due to …show more content…
When life becomes intolerable, Amanda reminiscences about the days of her youth in Blue Mountain and how she had seventeen gentlemen callers on one Sunday afternoon. This is Amanda’s escape mechanism, however, she is incapable of living in this world of illusion forever. The burdens of everyday life force her to face reality. One of these complications is Laura’s lack of a man that can take care of her. She tells Laura, "I know so well what becomes of unmarried women who aren 't prepared to occupy a position." (Williams 16). Amanda prefers to live in the past and recreate her younger days, but she must always come back to the fact that Laura is not like most girls. Amanda discovers that reminiscing about the past is not a perpetual