Symbolism in "The Glass Menagerie"

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Symbolism is a type of literary device authors use to add special effect and meaning to their stories. According to The American Heritage Dictionary, symbolism is “The practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships (“symbolism”).” Objects, people, actions, and words often are used to symbolize a deeper meaning throughout the text of a story. As one reads a story, they must realize that each sentence they are reading could have a double meaning; this means that further thought is often necessary, on the part of the reader, to better understand the whole effect the author was trying to portray. Tennessee Williams wrote The Glass Menagerie in a somewhat complex and confusing manor; if the reader does not read into the meaning of the symbols that are scattered throughout the text, the story is misunderstood.

The main symbols in The Glass Menagerie are the glass menageries themselves. Laura, the daughter in the story, collects little glass figurines or animals; these figurines are called menageries. The small, glass, figures represent numerous elements of Laura’s personality. Both Laura and the figurines are fragile, whimsical, and somewhat behind the times. As Anita Gates writes, in her article "When Appearances Aren't What They Seem" Laura “is as delicate as the tiny glass animals she collects” (10). Laura is very fragile and weak in body, mind, and spirit. The menageries are weak also because they are made of glass. Therefore, both the figurines and Laura have to be cared for and treated lightly because of the possible damage that could be done to them if they were not properly taken care of.

The menagerie also symbolizes the ...

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.... Williams uses symbols and figurative language to allow the reader and the audience to understand the deeper meaning and purpose of his writing. Each symbol proved very significant in explaining the underlying emotions throughout the drama. Every character had something that represented how they felt or what they were going through. Amanda symbolized with the past and her objects of the past, such as her yellow dress. Tom symbolized with the movies and the fire escape which represented an escape from his present life. Laura symbolized with the glass menagerie which was delicate and fragile. Each of the three main characters had deep feelings that only could be seen through the symbols that Williams used along the way. By using so many symbols, the reader is able to truly understand the feelings of each of the characters and relate to their hopes and dreams.

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