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Glass Menagerie

            Most parents only goals for their children are happiness and success. Many times, in trying to reach these goals, parents try to prevent their children from repeating mistakes they may have made earlier in life. This is the case with the Wingfield family in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Amanda Wingfield attempts to do what is best for her children, although she often provokes responses opposite of her reactions.
             Amanda is always trying to improve upon her children's lives. Amanda signs Laura up to go to Rubicam's Business College. She wants Laura to get a degree and be able to get a job to support herself. She wants Laura to be more independent, unlike herself, so she won't have to depend on other people throughout her life. Amanda instructs Tom on how hot his coffee should be, what he should put in his coffee, as well as how much he needs to eat to "put in a day's work." This shows that she wants Tom to be healthy and well nourished. She also wants him to be able to work hard to make good money so he can continue to support the family. Amanda asks Tom to find some "nice young [man]" at his work and ask him out for Laura. Amanda is trying to keep Laura from growing up to be an "old maid." This also shows that Amanda depends on Tom for many things including finding a gentleman caller for his sister. Amanda always intends for good results to come from the things she does for Tom and Laura.
             Amanda's attempts to improve the lives of her children often lead to them pushing away from her. Laura is afraid to tell Amanda that she quit going to Rubicam's Business College because she couldn't face the "awful suffering look on [her mother's] face." This shows that Amanda's good intentions made Laura feel guilty about not going to school. Laura felt like she had to deceive her mother so she wouldn't disappoint her. Tom leaves the house to go to the movies after getting in an argument with Amanda about Laura.


Essays Related to Glass Menagerie

1. Glass Menagerie

He worked a variety of odd jobs until 1945, when he first appeared on the Broadway scene as the author of "The Glass Menagerie". ... "The Glass Menagerie" gave Williams an opportunity to pour out events of his life through the means of fictitious play writing. The Glass Menagerie first opened on March 31, 1945. ... The father in The Glass Menagerie "was a telephone man who fell in love with distances; he gave up the job with the telephone company and skipped the light fantastic of this town." ... The masterpiece of "The Glass Menagerie" could only have been accomplished through such intens...

  • Word Count: 801
  • Approx Pages: 3
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2. Glass Menagerie

In Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie these same struggles are portrayed. ... - (The Glass Menagerie, page 59). ... (The Glass Menagerie, page 82). ... (The Glass Menagerie, page 86) Laura lives in her glass menagerie, which becomes her escape from reality. ... (The Glass Menagerie, page 45). ...

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3. Glass Menagerie

In Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie these same struggles are portrayed. ... - (The Glass Menagerie, page 59). ... (The Glass Menagerie, page 82). ... (The Glass Menagerie, page 86) Laura lives in her glass menagerie, which becomes her escape from reality. ... (The Glass Menagerie, page 45). ...

  • Word Count: 1745
  • Approx Pages: 7
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4. The Glass Menagerie

Symbolism: The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams uses symbolism throughout his classic play The Glass Menagerie. ... Williams uses symbols to effectively express the theme of The Glass Menagerie. ... Symbols used in this classic play are the fire escape, Laura's "glass menagerie," and rainbows. ... Another recurring symbol in the story is that of the "glass menagerie." ... The conversation turns to Laura's glass collection and Laura remarks "Glass is something you have to take good care of" (VII, p. 1821), again showing her fragility and the symbolism of the "glass menag...

  • Word Count: 991
  • Approx Pages: 4
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5. The Glass Menagerie

"The Glass Menagerie" There are some people who live life within another life. ... In Tennessee Williams the "Glass Menagerie" the members of the Wingfield family are all trapped in menial existences. ... In his play, "The Glass Menagerie", Tennessee Williams uses the imagery of a glass unicorn to help convey the emotional anguish of the character, Laura. ... Amuse ourselves with the glass menagerie, darling (1454)! ... Laura goes on to show him her glass menagerie. ...

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6. Glass Menagerie

In the Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams uses an extensive pattern of symbolism in his character development of Laura. ... The dominant symbols that describe Laura include the fire escape, the glass menagerie, the unicorn, and rainbows. ... ""The most prominent use of the symbolic glass menagerie comes at the turning point of the story when Jim is left alone with Laura... It is clear at this point that Laura and her glass menagerie break when they both become exposed to the outside world, represented by Jim. ... The glass menagerie, the fire escape, the unicorn and rainbows give the reader a...

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7. Glass Menagerie

Laura Wingfield has chosen to hide from reality in the play The Glass Menagerie. ... The glass menagerie represents Laura to some extent, as she is fragile, like the glass and can be broken easily. ... In the play The Glass Menagerie, Tom Wingfield has chosen to hide from reality. ... Mr Wingfield has also chosen to hide from reality in the play The Glass Menagerie. ... play, The Glass Menagerie. ...

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8. The Glass Menagerie

Tennessee Williams", gives the reader an inside look into the lives of a common family living in the pre-war depression era in his play The Glass Menagerie. ... The two different symbols that can be found in the Glass Menagerie are escape, which provides hope and diversion from the outside world and the glass menagerie, which is a metaphor for Laura's fragility and uniqueness. ... Williams uses the theme of escape throughout The Glass Menagerie to demonstrate the hopelessness of each character's dreams. The symbol of the glass menagerie represents a safe place to hide from realit...

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9. The Glass Menagerie

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a play abounding with symbolism. ... Next is the glass figures that reside in Laura's menagerie are symbols of Laura herself. ... Laura escapes to the world of her menagerie where she is safe from the world of people. ... After talking to him for a period of time she slowly opened herself up, and showed him her favorite glass menagerie. ... These are just a few of the many symbols Tennessee Williams places in his play The Glass Menagerie. ...

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10. The Glass Menagerie

The Glass Menagerie In The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, Tom and Laura Wingfield share a special sibling bond. ... In Tennessee William's play, The Glass Menagerie, the characters of Tom, Amanda, and Laura are all like the "Glass Menagerie" in one way or another. ... Laura Wingfield, a shy and emotionally crippled young girl, is the most like the glass menagerie that she adores. ... Immediately, she retreats to the fantasy world of the glass menagerie. ... Each character resembles the glass in the glass menagerie. ...

  • Word Count: 1229
  • Approx Pages: 5
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