What Does The Glass Menagerie Represent

In the play, “The Glass Menagerie” each members of the Wingfield’s family is given a bird trait metaphorically. Their last name has deep meaning that they are free and can soar through the air; the play shows that Wingfield is the family symbol and that they can be free and walked out of the nest. Some of the family member traits don’t depict their names, but each are described by birds that fits their character the most.
Amanda is a mother that wants the best for her children even though she pushes her kids around a lot. Her kids, sometimes can sense her needs and what she wants without her saying it. She is like a predator who is trying to control Tom every move. ”It’s you that make me rush through meals with your hawk-like attention.” A hawk is a predator,a predator forces their prey to submit to their doing. …show more content…
”Wingfield” she said “we don’t have any such student enrolled at our school.” Wingfield is a bird that can fly, birds that can soar through the air and be free. Laura’s trait is more like a penguin, who can’t fly away and be free.”I went in the art museum and the bird houses at the zoo. I visited the penguins everyday” Penguins are flightless birds that are bound to the ground and can never be free. Laura probably feel like she’s pressured too much and want to get away sometimes and be alone.
There is something that is separating Laura from the world. Laura is very fragile, so fragile that she could break at any moment; so she must be protected very well. They, “-realizing that extra money would be needed to properly feather the nest and plume the bird.” Feathering the nest means to protect the bird, this is referring that Laura as being protected from something that she might not be able to