Begin a new bellringer page! Thursday, January 12 Begin a new bellringer page! Think about memories Choose one vivid memory that comes to mind. What senses are most affected by this memory (sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell)?  What/Who is the focus of this memory?  What part of this memory stands out the most in your mind?  How does your own perception of what happened influence the memory? (did it really happen exactly as you remember?)

Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie

Background – 1911-1983 Thomas Lanier Williams, born in Columbus, Mississippi, on March 26, 1911. His mother, Edwina, was the puritanical daughter of an Episcopal priest. His father, Cornelius Coffin Williams, was a violent and aggressive traveling salesman. He had an older sister, Rose, and a younger brother named Dakin. He died in 1983 at the age of 71.

Background While his father traveled, Tom was mostly brought up by his overprotective mother. In 1929, he went to the University of Missouri to study journalism. In a state of depression, Tom dropped out of school and, at his father's instigation, took a job as a clerk in a shoe company. It was, he recalled, “living death.'’ 1937 – went to the University of Iowa in 1937, where he wrote a number of plays. He graduated in 1938.

Background Was particularly close to sister Rose who was institutionalized and spent most of her adult life in mental hospitals The family allowed a prefrontal lobotomy to be performed. Afterwards, she was left with the mental capacity of a child. Williams never forgave his parents for allowing the operation. “Mad heroine” theme in many of his works. Menagerie character of Laura is thought to be modeled on Rose.

Background At 28, left home for New Orleans, where he changed his his name to “Tennessee,” a nickname given to him by college fraternity brothers. He wrote a play titled The Gentleman Caller, which slowly evolved into The Glass Menagerie. On March 31, 1945, it opened on Broadway.

Most Famous Works The Glass Menagerie Streetcar Named Desire—won Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof—Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1955 The Night of the Iguana—New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award 1961 The Rose Tattoo—Tony Award for best play 1952

The Glass Menagerie It is a memory play (from Tom’s memory). dimly lighted and sentimental; nonrealistic screen—images or titles projected onto it for some scenes lighting—reflects meaning of play music—very nostalgic Memory takes a lot of poetic license. omits some details; others are exaggerated.

The Glass Menagerie Set in 1930s St. Louis Then and Now—told from Tom’s memory years later It is not truly autobiographical, but it does draw on much of the author’s experience. Play can be divided into two parts Scenes 1-5: Preparing for a Gentleman Caller Scenes 6-7: The Gentleman Calls

Characters Tom—brother who wants to flee responsibility of taking care of mother and sister, narrator Amanda—mother who lives in the past, remembers fondly her days of being a southern belle with a lot of gentleman callers Laura—daughter and sister, shy and nervous young woman who panics when having to interact socially has a lot of glass animals, a menagerie the word menagerie means collection of animals Jim—the gentleman caller