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The Glass Menagerie. Tennessee Williams. Themes. Reality versus Illusion Tom Laura Amanda Loneliness Amanda’s loquacious nature Power of Memory Father’s picture Laura blowing out the candles. Symbols. Fire Escape
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The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams
Themes • Reality versus Illusion • Tom • Laura • Amanda • Loneliness • Amanda’s loquacious nature • Power of Memory • Father’s picture • Laura blowing out the candles
Symbols • Fire Escape • Represents the only place where the character can escape the painful world • Characters use to exit apt. (literal and figurative escape) • Blue Roses • Describes Laura’s mood and beauty • Glass Menagerie • Laura’s isolation and fragility • Father’s portrait • Missing link b/n family members. He is gone, but not forgotten. • Very important “character” in the play • Moon • Hope
Conflicts • Amanda versus her children • Amanda versus Tom • Amanda versus Laura • Tom’s inner conflict • Laura’s inner conflict • Amanda’s inner conflict
The play is set during the Depression • Tom is the narrator and a character • The play is a memory • The initial fight b/n Amanda and Tom shows us the tension in the family • The father was a telephone man who fell in love with long distances… meaning? • How does Amanda escape reality?
Laura has a slight limp • Amanda accuses Laura of deception when she dropped out of class • Amanda is worried about Laura’s ability to take care of herself • Blue Roses came from… • They symbolize Laura’s beauty and difference • Tom dreams of becoming a sailor. • Reading and writing, going to the movies, and joining the merchant marines are all escapes for Tom
Why is Tom nicknamed Shakespeare? • The music from PDH is in contrast to the Wingfield’s existence • Tom enjoys the magician’s coffin trick, why? • Amanda sells magazine subscriptions to help pay rent • Amanda dislikes Tom reading D.H. Lawrence, why? • During the worst argument Tom and Amanda have, what insult does he say to her? • Amanda believe Christian adults should want love of family • Laura is petrified when she finds out Jim is coming for dinner • Jim ruins the night when he tells them about Betty
Open-Ended • Compare Williams’ life to TheGlass Menagerie. • How do Amanda, Laura, and Tom deal with loneliness? How do they each escape? Explain in terms of symbols and themes.