Thursday, December 26, 2019

Symbolism In The Glass Menagerie By Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams had a rough past as a result it influenced him to write plays about the conditions in the 1930s. Although Williams had a tough past, Williams became very successful in his writings and plays. Nevertheless Williams gained popularity among his peers. His experiences in the 1930s affected his work especially in The Glass Menagerie. Williams’s homosexuality made him be seen as an outcast in American society. Not to mention that homosexuality was not as widely accepted as it is today. The writing style of Williams creates a unique and great story. Tennessee Williams utilizes symbolism to express his themes throughout The Glass Menagerie. There are many events in Tennessee Williams’s early life that is similar to the†¦show more content†¦Williams creates an illusionary state between the old south and the new industrial world (Topham 4). The play represents memories of Tom years later and is not a depiction of actuality (Adler 5). The truth is in a pleasant guise of illusion (Beattie 2). While the play represents the past, there are also other examples of symbolism. In the play, The Glass Menagerie, Williams uses many symbols that are stated directly and indirectly. Williams employment of symbolism is needed to capture the reality of illusion (Adler 5). Laura was given the nickname â€Å"Blue Roses† by a boy she loved in high school (Adler 6). Roses are delicate, beautiful, and fanciful, like Laura and her glass animals, but they both have no real existence (Adler 6). The glass unicorn is her favorite glass animal (Beattie 3). When Jim breaks off the horn accidentally, Laura realizes that she ordinary like the unicorn-turned horse (Beattie 4). Another symbol is a dead-end alleyway, which cats are trapped and killed by dogs (Holditch 2). All the characters are trapped in different ways, and each escape into an illusion (Holditch 2). The symbols relate to the themes and characters. The themes provide a deeper understan ding of the play and of the characters. Tom’s father abandoned his family, who appears only in a photograph on the wall (Adler 6). Tom abandoned the family the same way his father did, but he wanted to leave his life situation (Beattie 2). Amanda struggles to support herShow MoreRelatedSymbolism In The Glass Menagerie By Tennessee Williams822 Words   |  4 Pages A play based on the power of memory, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a story told from Tom Wingfield’s point of view and depicts Laura’s imaginary world, a place where she can retreat and escape the reality of the present, and live in a â€Å"perfect† world. Laura’s memories from the past shape her personality, such as the name, â€Å"Blue Roses,† which illustrates her fragile nature, much like the fragility of the glass menagerie. 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