Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams

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Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams

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In Tennessee Williams' play The Glass Menagerie; Williams used symbols to represent the reoccurring theme of the failure to accept reality. The use of the fire escape, Tom's constant visits to the movies, Jim O'Connor("the common man"),and Laura's collection of glass animals were the main symbols Williams used to achieve the escape of the characters into their own realms. Often people try to find small objects to distract them from the reality of the world.

Presented in the first scene, the fire escape correspond to the "bridge" between the illusory worlds of the Wingfields and the world of reality. While the fire escape was a symbol of a passage to the Wingfields family's non existent worlds, it also had an individualized meaning to each of the characters as well. For Tom, the fire escape was the way out of the world of Amanda and Laura and an entrance into a world of just Tom, with no responsibilities like, when Tom would stand outside on the fire escape to smoke. Tom did this to show that he did not like to be inside, he would had much rather ventured out into the world. As Tom searched for the route outward, Laura wished to keep inside. Laura thought of the fire escape as a way into her own private place where she was safe from reality, this could be recognized when Amanda sent Laura to the store and ends up tripping on the fire escape. Laura noticed that she was safe within her own boundaries but once she stepped outside the boundaries she got hurt. Laura used the fire escape as a haven to view out into the real world but keep the harshness of the world away from her.

Tom's habit of going to the movies showed his longing to leave the ap...

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...e way he wanted to. One of the pieces that was broken, a unicorn, was broken by Jim. The Broken unicorn directly characterized Laura as a person. Laura pointed out to Jim that the unicorn was different, just as she was different, and that the unicorn did not complain of being different, just as she did not complain of being different. Laura recognized the horn, which made the unicorn unique, was broken making it just like the other horses. The broken horn was a direct comparison to Laura's life, just like the horn she had broken herself of being shy and she started to become just like everyone else, normal.

Through the use of symbols Tennessee Williams made the point that one can never really ignore reality. People may find small objects to distract them from what really happens but, sooner or later people have to face the facts of reality and deal with it.

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