THE GLASS MENAGERIE TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

BACKGROUND Tennessee Williams born Thomas Lanier Williams in 1911, Mississippi Very close to his sister Rose who suffered from mental illness and had a lobotomy which altered her psychology permanently He wrote to escape from his mundane existence as a clerk with a shoe company There are autobiographical parallels in the play The Glass Menagerie

CHARACTERS Laura Wingfield - She is the crippled and very shy daughter of Amanda who keeps her hard pressed to finding a husband. Tom Wingfield - As Laura’s sister, he is also pressed by his mother to find his sister a gentleman caller, and to keep the job at the shoe factory to support the family. Amanda Wingfield - She is the mother of Tom and Laura and often digresses back to memories of her former days on the southern plantation farm and her night with 17 gentleman callers. Jim O’Conner - He is a friend of Tom from the factory who Tom invites to dinner and Amanda treats as Laura’s first gentleman caller.

MINOR CHARACTERS Mr. Wingfield - He is Amanda’s husband who deserted the family about 16 years ago and is only seen in the play as a large photograph hung on the wall, but he is often referred to.

SETTING 1930 St Louis (Great Depression) The Wingfield house - This takes up most of the stage and the different room are separated by curtains.  There is the living and the kitchen. The fire escape - This is on the side of the stage and is what the characters use to get into and out of the apartment.

SYMBOLS victrola - the escape and the private world of Laura. jonquils - a reminder of Amanda’s glorious past. magic show - the escape so desired by Tom. glass menagerie - Laura’s private world, and the breaking of it. fire escape - simply the escape from Amanda’s world.  Tom seeks to leave it, but Laura stumbles whenever she does. unicorn - Laura’s singularity, her return to reality, and her return to her retreat back into her world.

SYMBOLS candelabrum - Tom’s relationship (or lack thereof) with his family. scarf - Tom’s attempt to share his magic and desire for escape with Laura. gentleman caller - the real world as opposed to Amanda’s imagined one. father’s portrait - reminder of his abandonment of his family and Tom’s desire to follow in his path. blue roses – Laura’s unique, unusual quality, her fragility.

Religious Symbolism Christians hope for the Second Coming of Christ Tom’s photo in The Torch-light of the world Jim (Irish Catholic origin)-that means fish, symbol of Christianity Jim’s speech to Laura about self-help echoes Christ’s Sermon on the Mount Unicorn-Christian symbol of purity Laura blows out her candles-the service is over References to ‘martyr’ remind us that Christ martyred himself to save our souls

THEMES Escapism/Imprisonment Dreams and reality Time Family relationships

Method of Narration Tom is narrator and a main character. He tells the story as memory. What does this technique contribute to the play? How does this technique help to convey Williams’ message and ideas? Describe his character in the play. Describe his ‘traps’. What are his means of escape? Describe his relationship with Amanda. Describe his relationship with Laura. Respond to how the play ends in relation to Tom.