“Glass Menagerie” – Advance Notes

1. “Glass Menagerie” – Advance Notes Written by Tennessee Williams

2. Williams’ Background • His sister, Rose, had a prefrontal lobotomy, a prescribed cure for mental illness involving extremely violent behavior, in 1943. This play is seen by some as his coming to terms with his sister’s illness. Laura in the play seems to be Rose.

3. Memory Play • “The Glass Menagerie” comes from the memory of the narrator, Tom Wingfield. He wants to be a poet, but works in a shoe warehouse to support the family. • Williams also worked at a shoe store after his father forced him out of Univ. of Missouri b/c he failed an ROTC course.

4. Williams’ education/work • He finally finished at Iowa and then wandered from city to city while working in various productions. • He studied playwriting in NY and then worked as a script writer in Hollywood during WWII.

5. Williams’ success • 1941 – Wrote “Portrait of a Girl in Glass” which was more about Laura than his actual play. • 1944 – Play opened in Chicago; then hit Broadway in 1945. • Won Drama Critics’ Circle Award and Pulitzer Prize for “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”

6. Characters - • Amanda – Laura/Tom’s mother – Lives on memories of past. • Laura – Wears a brace on a bad leg. 23 and shy. Withdrawn from the world. Only interested in her record collection and animal figurines. • Tom – Frustrated at working @ a shoe warehouse as he is trying to become a poet. Lives through the movies, lit., and alcohol. • Jim – Interested in what he can achieve. Knew Laura in high school, where he was a popular athlete. • Mr. Wingfield – Worked for a telephone company and left his family. Never appears on stage, but is talked about.

7. history • December 26, 1944- “The Glass Menagerie” opening in Chicago’s Civic Theatre • Before the opening of “The Glass Menagerie” he endured humiliation from his play “Battle of Angels” • He worked at MGM writing scripts • His fame began after “The Glass Menagerie” • He felt guilty for not trying to stop his sister’s operation

8. history • Ourmost memorable plays depict family tensions and alienations. • Most of Williams’ works are considered autobiographies, but there are deviations. • The parallels between the Williams/Wingfield families are well established by Williams and his biographers. • Menagerie reveals the story of family members struggling with their own versions of hell and seeking escape from the gravities of each others’ pathology. • They seek flight, if not literally, then through their imaginations.

9. Characterizations • Amanda lives in her past when “life” was more promising • Laura imagines her life as something more/better than it actually is • Laura’s unable to hold a job • Tom is more in the background, like more of an audience member than a cast member • Laura chooses to hide and live in her “glass menagerie”, instead of dealing with the real world.

10. More BGround The Glass Menagerie tune is played throughout he play when emphasis is needed.. It’s a memory play. The lighting is not realistic, it’s dim, which illustrates memory.. The music is played more clearly when Laura is presented. The lighting from Laura should be different, causing Laura to appear differently.