- Published: September 9, 2022
- Updated: September 9, 2022
- University / College: University of Leeds
- Language: English
- Downloads: 22
Introduction
Glass Menagerie is a play of memories of the narrator. Tom, who loathes warehouse job and aspiring poet, is a character who toils to support his father, Mr. Wingfield, Amanda his mother, and a sister, Laura. Due to disappointment that Laura, who wears a brace on her leg and is shy, does not attract any suitor. Amanda hopes, by enrolling Laura in a business collage, she would make her own family’s prosperity.
Jim was Laura’s school mate and they have several crush. On Amanda’s order, Laura answers the door but refuses the dinner by feigning illness. Since Tom used money for electric bill, the light go out, Tom light candles and Laura ordered to entertain Jim in the living room. She confesses she knew him and liked him in school but she was too shy. Later they notice that Jim was engaged, due to guiltiness and fired from job Tom leaves, but not long he finds that guilty memories of Laura make him unable to leave.
Symbols
Blue roses
Her past is explained when she described as a pretty and little southern belle who is bordered with dozens of men. To Amanda, the flowers symbolize the past and acts as a sigh of what she wishes out of her daughter.
The blue roses in the text are used to demonstrate the uniqueness and individual self of Laura but its only Jim who is aware of this attribute. Mythical significance explains that the blue roses are a mystery and they do not come by easily. When you look this aspect in accordance to Jim description, Laura is a lady who is considered unique and one in a million.
The unicorn
The unicorn (glass menagerie), is very fragile and delicate as compared to Laura. The aspect of being fragile is demonstrated physically in the glass. This is manifested when Laura says that,” if you breathe, it breaks!” the glass therefore needed to be handled in a careful manner to prevent any breakage.
The fire escape
The fire escape means that Tom hates his life and he runs away and stage engaging in other activities. He uses the movies and drinks to occupy his time. When his mother yells at him he escapes. Toms decides to hang out on entertainment joints claiming that he is there because of the smoking thing but in the real there, he is there because of the ESCAPE thing. This is a foreshadowing style but despite escaping he cannot forget about the memories of Laura.
