Glass Menagerie
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Tennessee Williams play The Glass Menagerie gives us a seemingly real-life example of how dreams and memories can shelter us from a sometimes harsh reality. The play also proposes that we are all entrapped by this harsh reality and any attempt to escape is futile, yet we can always find temporary relief with our inner illusions and dreams. Through the plays symbols we can see into these inner realms in which the plays characters find their solace. There is however a warning of how overindulging in these illusions can be destructive. With toms narration we then see and understand their inner struggles with true reality. Toms narration along with music also keeps us constantly reminded that the play is told in retrospect, this fact shows us that whilst we can physically escape, we can never truly escape from who we are.
From the beginning of the play to the last sentence, Tennessee Williams paints us a grim picture of entrapped subjects and their futile attempts at escape. In truth he shows us that it is not merely Williams subjects that remain entrapped by life, but it is all of us that stand along side them; entrapped forever in lifes harsh reality. Williams writes Tom as the main character and also as the narrator. He shows us that tom is entrapped by his family, he yearns to leave them but fears his leaving will disrupt them, “we nailed him into a coffin and he got out of the coffin without removing one nail. Theres a trick that would come in handy for me – get me out of this 2 by 4 situation!” Amanda and Laura are the nails in Toms coffin and he knows that during his escape from this coffin the nails are bound to be disturbed. Toms narration, and therefore the entire play, is written in retrospect, this is the first demonstration of Toms entrapment; he has to vent the stories of his past for he has carried them around since he “-descended the steps of this fire escape for the last time-“. We read evidence of Toms everlasting entrapment in his final monologue, the ghost like memory of Laura appears to Tom when he sees the pieces of coloured glass in a lighted shop window, “Oh, Laura, Laura, I tried to leave you behind me, but I am more faithful than I intended to be.” He tells us that however far he travels he is always “-pursued by something.” We are hence shown that although we can physical escape is possible, emotional escape is futile.
Fortunately, Williams offers us a glimmer of relief, however brief; he shows us that although we are all indeed trapped by reality, and escape is futile, we can find temporary solace in our own memories and illusions. In Lauras case, we read the memories of being at school with pleurosis and feeling overly self-conscious, she has dealt with the real world before, and found it was not to her liking. Therefore, instead of dealing with reality and its emotionally harsh environment, she has built an imaginary realm around herself in which she is the Queen watching over and caring for her perfect realm of subjects, “The Glass Menagerie”. Laura feels at home when she is emersed in this perfectly developed realm of imagination, she spends much time there caring for her beautiful glass creatures, but when she spends too much time away from this illusion she becomes distant and fragile, “She is like a piece of translucent glass-” herself; she does not only dislike reality, but it is now impossible for her to deal with. Amanda on the other hand, has found a perfect balance between the comfort of nostalgia and dealing with the harshness of reality. When Amanda is faced with a challenge, she is devoted to her cause and she pulls out all the stops; when she is told that a gentleman caller is arriving for dinner the day after, a possible suitor for her daughter Laura, she immediately throws herself into a flurry, identifying tasks and organising the apartment, but when the time comes for some stress relief, she turns swiftly to the memories of her younger days; of “Evenings, dances! – afternoons, long, long rides! Picnics – lovely! – so lovely, that country in May.” She also glances occasionally at the portrait of her husband Mr Wingfield reminiscing of better times. But, she can also get back to her tasks just as quickly. We learn through Williams use of Amanda and Laura that we need to have a balance of nostalgia and illusion, with dedication and commitment to lead a fulfilling life, for spending too much time emersed in illusion can make us fragile and isolated and leave us with the incapability of dealing with reality.
Through lighting and music Williams explores the destructive power of imaginary worlds. Laura, having built this perfect