The Escape

707 Words2 Pages

Tennessee Williams was born on March 26, 1911, as Thomas Lanier Williams. Much of Tennessee Williams work shows his fascination with characters facing lonely struggles in emotionally starved environments. Much of his work has biographical roots, harking back to his own family's atmosphere of repression and anger, evoked through characterization of psychologically vulnerable women and domineering men. In his memoirs, Williams called "The Glass Menagerie" with its burden of guilt and cruelty, "the big one-close to the marrow of my being." (1693) In the play, "The Glass Menagerie," I believe that Tennessee Williams did an excellent job with the setting, plot, tone, theme, and the symbolic imagery. Williams also uses lyrical symbolism, and I believe this play is autobiographical, and the characters have to do with the family of Tennessee Williams. I liked the way Williams used the actions of the characters, the point of view, and the climax of the play, to keep me very interested in this play.

I believe the tone of this play is sad, but cynical, and depressing in some sense. Tennessee Williams use both present and past tenses in this play. Tom states, "The play is a memory play. Being a memory play, it is dimly lighted, it is sentimental, it is not realistic. That explains the fiddle in the wings." (1698) Tom states, " I have not enjoyed one bit of my dinner because of your constant directions on how to eat it. It's you that makes me rush through meals with your hawk-like attention to every bite I take." (1698) The setting takes place in an apartment and alley in St. Louis. Tom from an indefinite point in the future, remembers the winter and spring of 1937. (1695) I believe that the theme has to do with the fact of accepting the reality of his life. I think Tom was not able to escape from his life, and could not forget his memory of this incident.

Tom Wingfield (brother) states, "I am the narrator of the play, and also a character in it." (1698) I believe that Tom is the protagonist. Tom is a poet who works in a Continental Shoemakers warehouse. (1706) I think the play is formed by Tom's memory. I believe that Tom loves his mother and sister but feels trapped at home. I think Amanda needs Tom for his earnings, but as long as he stays there he feels trapped.

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