Memories seldom show reality as it occurs; instead, they exaggerate and emphasize the feelings of the event and forget the rest. [PP3] In Tennessee Williams’s “The Glass Menagerie,” the memories of Tom Wingfield are layered with symbols of how he wishes to be free from his current life and the slow realization that he will never truly be free from his ties to the very household that drug him down. The prime examples of the symbolism shown in this memory play are Tom’s trips to the movies, Jim as a character, and the extinguishing of the candles. Possibly the most recurring symbol to the story is the movies Tom retreats to at the end of the day. Tom has a strong desire to follow his father’s footsteps and leave his unsatisfying life behind, …show more content…
Part of Tom’s desire to leave is this treatment at the hands of his mother. In the beginning of the play, he loses his appetite because of his mother’s “constant directions of how to eat it” (923), and at one point she said that, in reference to books that she took from Tom, she “took that horrible novel back to the library,” (931) and that she “won’t allow such filth brought into [her] house!” (931). Part of Tom’s desire to leave is this treatment at the hands of his mother; another part is his job, and how monotonous and stagnant it is at the workshop. [PP2] Together, they leave Tom feeling trapped in his lifestyle of struggling through the days. He mentions to seeing a magician show at the movies, which sums up his feelings of …show more content…
His mother frequently mentions how he cannot quit the job he despises because he is making the money for the house. She also laments about Lauren does not have heaps of “gentlemen callers” throughout the story. Amanda enlists Tom to search for men at his work that would be nice and suitable suitors for Laura. Tom, in response, invites Jim over. Jim was the high school crush of Laura, and he was excellent in many high school things- basketball, singing, and debate. It sounds like a perfect fit, and it was meant to. While Tom of the future is narrating in the very beginning of the play, he outright claims that Jim is a symbol of “the long-delayed but always expected something that we live for” (922). [PP4] Jim is the way Tom can leave, a way to get Amanda to stop hounding about gentlemen callers, and a way to get Laura away from her bleak, husbandless future. Jim was the key to the happiness of the Wingfields. HE talks with Laura and gets her out of her shell, and it all seems so perfect. Life, however, is not perfect. Jim was going out and even engaged to another woman, and he could not be the Wingfield’s saving grace. Amanda was angry at Tom, saying, “what a wonderful joke you played on us” (970) in a tone that could be nothing other than drenched in outraged sarcasm. She blames the horrible ending of the night on Tom and his lack of knowledge of Jim’s romantic life. This outrages Tom in turn, and he
Throughout the novel, the reader is presented with various symbols. The symbols are clearly made evident by Holden’s constant repetition of their importance. The symbols are so important and their symbolism is directly related to the major themes of the novel.
The masterful use of symbolism is delightfully ubiquitous in Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie.” He uses a collection of dim, dark and shadowy symbols that constantly remind the audience of the lost opportunity each of these three characters continually experience. This symbolism is not only use to enlighten the audience to their neglected opportunities to shine, but it is also repeatedly utilized to reinforce the ways in which the characters try in vain to cross over turbulent waters into a world of light and clarity. It is thematically a wrenching story of life gone by, and the barren attempts to realize another reality that is made more poignant by symbolic language, objects, setting, lighting and music. The characters are trying to escape their own reality, and continue desperately to grasp at real life. The powerful use of symbolism in The Glass Menagerie exaggerates their missed opportunities, and their inability to step into a new reality. Through the use of symbolism, Williams continually illuminates the attempts of each character to break their bondage, and cross their own personal Rubicon into another reality. Because of his expert use of symbolism the audience can assuredly feel the full weight and impact of their imprisonment and actions.
In The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, the glass menagerie is a clear and powerful metaphor for each of the four characters, Tom, Laura, Amanda, and the Gentleman Caller. It represents their lives, personality, emotions, and other important characteristics.
After Myrtle dies, Tom shows a side of him that is rarely seen. “And if you think I [don’t] have my share of suffering” (178). It almost seems as if Tom is trying to win Nick’s approval. Similarly, Gatsby makes up lies about himself to make seem more appealing to others. At Tom’s house, Daisy tells Nick about how she wishes her daughter would be “a beautiful little fool” (17) because women are not taken very seriously and are considered trophies that the men compete for.. After saying this, Daisy smirks as if “ she [has] asserted her membership in a rather distinguished secret society to which she and Tom [belong]” (17). Daisy allows Nick to have a glimpse into her glamorous, yet conflicted life. Even Jordan, the woman he has a crush on, reveals to Nick about Tom and Daisy’s complicated relationship. “Tom’s got some woman in New York” (15). Upon hearing this scandalous news, the reader can understand Tom from the way Nick sees
Tennessee Williams employs the uses of plot, symbolism, and dialogue to portray his theme of impossible true escape, which asserts itself in his play, The Glass Menagerie. Each of his characters fills in the plot by providing emotional tension and a deep, inherent desire to escape. Symbolism entraps meaning into tangible objects that the reader can visualize and attach significance to. Conclusively, Williams develops his characters and plot tensions through rich dialogue. Through brilliant construction and execution of literary techniques, Williams brings to life colorful characters in his precise, poignant on-stage drama.
Tom realizes her desperate situation and takes total advantage of her. The clearest example of this is when Myrtle shouts Daisy’s name and Tom warns her not to say it again but Myrtle says Daisy's name anyway. Tom Buchanan in a “A short deft movement..., breaks her nose with his open hand.” Tom views her as not even being allowed to lick the dirt of his shoe. She is just another one of Tom’s possessions. Myrtle isn’t even allowed to say Daisy's name. He knows that she's in desperate situation. Tom is all she has and he knows this, he could do whatever he wants. He realizes that without her she will have to go back to George’s measly garage and she doesn't want that. Therefore Tom takes control of her desperation. Additionally, at the party, Catherine tells Nick that neither of them can stand the person they’re married to. They don't divorce and marry one another because Daisy is a Catholic. Nick knows that Tom is lying indicating to the reader, yet again, that Tom uses Myrtle for his own pleasure. She is nothing to him and he could do this because of Myrtle’s desperation. Another example in the novel is Mr. McKee asks Tom for a reference to be able to work in West Egg and Tom replies “Ask Myrtle,” said Tom, breaking into a short shout of laughter as Mrs. Wilson entered with a tray. “She’ll give you a letter of introduction, won’t you Myrtle?” She answers in confusion “Do what?” Tom is mocking her in front of
One of the major themes that the author talks about in this book is childhood love. There are several emotions that Tom experienced when he first meets Becky Thatcher. As stated in the book: "He worshiped this new angel with furtive eye, till he saw that she had discovered him; then he pretended he did not know she was present, and began to "show-off" in all sorts of absurd boyish ways, in order to win her admiration." (p.17) Afterwards he tries to get Becky's attention with a doorknob and out of excitement, accidentally mentions his former love, Amy Lawrence, causing the relationship to fall apart. To show us the pain Betty is going through the author carefully chooses his words to show us how powerful love is. The statement: "So she (Becky) sat down to cry again and upbraid herself; and by this time the scholars began to gather again, and she had to hide her grief and still her broken heart and take up the cross of a long, dreary, aching afternoon, with none among the strangers about her to exchange sorrows with." (p.52) explains the previous fact. For an end of the year exploration Tom's whole class goes on field trip in a cave. When Tom and Becky realize that they are lost in the caves, he constantly tires to console her and give her some hope for their escape. The passage on page 187, "He sat down by her and put his arms around her; she buried her face in his bosom, she clung to him, she poured out her terrors, her unavailing regrets, and the far echoes turned them all too jeering laughter." reminds us of an existing love between the two children. Aside from his love for Becky Tom also loves his Aunt Polly and sees her as if she was his own mother. Even though Tom uses every trick in his book to manipulate or deceive his aunt, he doesn't mean to cause any harm towards her. When Aunt Polly accuses Tom of lying about his dream, he agrees but says that he kissed her before waking up.
Tom Wingfield is a determined young man. He has decided against everyone else in his family's wishes that he wants to leave the dismal life of a factory job, to pursue a chance in the Merchant Marines. He realizes that he would be running off like his father and this is probably the only thing that kept him from leaving this long. Amanda, Tom's mother, deep down knows the day is coming that Tom will leave. She says "But not till there's someone to take your place." She wants Laura, if not herself to be taken care of. At that moment in the play Tom is the breadwinner in the family and up to this point Tom is the underpriviledged child that wants to move on. He wants to pursue his dream, a more adventurous life. Tom was a likable character until we find out he didn't pay the electric bill with the intended money. When Jim is over and he says "I paid my dues this month, instead of the light bill". At this point, Tom becomes a more selfish character. There is less sympathy given in his direction. In fact, this is probably where we feel a little more sorry for Amanda.
Not only does Tom treat women poorly, he treats anyone that is not upper class below par. Since Tom is immensely wealthy, and because he comes from “old” money, he believes that he is superior. Tom hides behind the dollar signs that are associated with his name and, uses them as a license to treat others harshly. This is evident in how he treats George Wilson, his mistress’s husband, and how he treats his wife 's admirer, Jay Gatsby. Wilson 's characteristics do not matter to Tom. It does not matter if George Wilson is kind, handsome, or humble. In Tom 's eyes, Myrtles husband is "so dumb he doesn 't know he 's alive" (26). It is not wicked enough that Tom "fools around" with George Wilson 's wife, he also has the nerve to belittle the man just because they do not share the same privileges in life. The way Tom treats George Wilson is much similar to the way he treats Jay Gatsby. From the beginning, Tom looks down on Gatsby and suspects that Gatsby 's wealth comes from illegal origins. In Tom’s eyes, it does not matter if Gatsby is wealthy, due to the fact that the “old” rich and the “new” are on different levels of social class and grace. Thus, when Tom finds out about the connection his wife and Gatsby share, his attitude about Gatsby sours. Hence, Gatsby becomes the ideal scapegoat when someone is needed to blame for Myrtle 's
Also, it seems Tom does not care if he gets fired or not judging by the amount of time that he spends writing poetry at work. Tom does not appreciate what he has or that his family is provided for. Tom also shows a hint of selfishness when he tells Amanda that there is nothing in that house that he can honestly call his own. Tom also goes to the movies or gets drunk almost every night and he knows that Amanda and Laura are worried about him but that changes nothing. He still goes out without thinking of how it affects his mother or sister.
The third and final reason Tom is unhappy and wants to leave, is due to his dreams being put on hold to support his family. Tom envisions a life of adventure, something of which he feels his life is meaningless without. After his father leaves, though not his obligation, Tom takes over the role as the man of the house. Tom feels that he is now responsible for taking care of his mother and sister. Even though Amanda and Laura need him, Tom decides anyway to leave them in search of his own adventures. Tom does not necessarily want to be unlike his father, he thinks of his wanting leave as a gene of sorts, a destiny, something he is supposed to do. When Tom’s coworker, Jim, is invited to dinner, Tom even confides in Jim that Tom is “like my [his] father” and that he is “the
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a touching play about the lost dreams of a southern family and their struggle to escape reality. The play is a memory play and therefore very poetic in mood, setting, and dialogue. Tom Wingfield serves as the narrator as well as a character in the play. Tom lives with his Southern belle mother, Amanda, and his painfully shy sister, Laura. The action of the play revolves around Amanda's search to find Laura a "gentleman caller. The Glass Menagerie's plot closely mirrors actual events in the author's life. Because Williams related so well to the characters and situations, he was able to beautifully portray the play's theme through his creative use of symbolism.
The Glass Menagerie is a play written by Tennessee Williams in 1945. The play takes place in the Wingfield’s apartment in St. Louis. Tom is the protagonist in the play and he stays at home with his mother Amanda and his sister Laura. Tom’s Father left the family when he was younger leaving him as the man of the house. His mother Amanda expects him to do everything a man would do. This included working, paying bills, and taking care of herself and Laura. Laura is disabled and she doesn’t work therefore Tom is left providing for his whole family. Being abandoned by Mr. Wingfield left the family distraught. No one seemed to be able to cope with the fact that he was gone even though he left many years ago. Amanda is constantly treating Tom like a child. She tells him how to eat, when to eat, and what he should and should not wear. Tom eventually gets fed up with everything. He can’t stand his factory job, the responsibility of being the man or being treated like a child by his mother. Tom decides to follow in his father’s footsteps and leave the family. It seems as if Tom thinks that running away from his problems will make them go away but things didn’t turn out that way. Although the play was written many years ago, young adults in this day and age can relate to Tom and his actions. The main theme in the play is escape. All of the character use escape in some way. Laura runs to her glass menagerie or phonographs when she can’t handle a situation, Amanda seems to live in the past, and Tom constantly runs away when things aren’t going his way. Escape is a short term fix for a bigger problem. Running away may seem like the easiest thing to do, but in the end the problem is still there and it may be unforgettable. As time goes on esc...
Tom Sawyer grew up with his Aunt Polly, Brother Sid, and Sister Mary. He tries to get out of work and responsibilities as much as he can, but in the end he always does as he is told. Though Tom runs away and always talks about leaving his home behind, he truly does love his family and cannot stand being away for long. As he is out in the woods, he tries to smoke but in the end he finds it makes him ill and does not try it again.(chapter 18, pg 142) Tom enjoys playing as though he is Robin Hood and his friends are merry men, while out in the woods. He wishes to get married to a girl whom he likes very much, and he believes likes him as well. Tom possesses a large sum of money and though he protests, he enjoys using the money to live a
In the 1930’s, Tennessee Williams used The Glass Menagerie as a way to reveal his past to the world due to how closely it mimicked his own life. The play is said to be more of an autobiography and a way for Tennessee Williams to express his childhood. By creating a memory play, Williams can elaborate on his own memories to explore new themes. A memory play is most widely known as a play told from the perspective of a character and it is restricted by the memory of the character chosen. In 1973, Anthony Harvey directs an adaptation of Williams’ classic. Both works combine to enhance original ideas of dialogue and imagery. In Tennessee Williams's play, “The