Symbolism In The Glass Menagerie- Essay, Research Paper

Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie-

The play The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, Williams

uses many symbols which represent many different things. Many of the

symbols used in the play try to symbolize some form of escape or

difference between reality and illusion.

The first symbol, presented in the first scene, is the fire

escape. This represents the “bridge” between the illusory world of the

Wingfields and the world of reality. This “bridge” seems to be a one

way passage. But the direction varies for each character. For Tom, the

fire escape is the way out of the world of Amanda and Laura and an

entrance into the world of reality. For Laura, the fire escape is a

way into her world. A way to escape from reality. Both examples can

readily be seen: Tom will stand outside on the fire escape to smoke,

showing that he does not like to be inside, to be a part of the

illusionary world. Laura, on the other hand, thinks of the fire escape

as a way in and not a way out. This can be seen when Amanda sends

Laura to go to the store: Laura trips on the fire escape. This also

shows that Laura’s fears and emotions greatly affect her physical

condition, more so than normal people.

Another symbol presented deals more with Tom than any of the

other characters: Tom’s habit of going to the movies shows us his

longing to leave the apartment and head out into the world of reality.

A place where one can find adventure. And Tom, being a poet, can

understand the needs of man to long for adventure and romance. But he

is kept from entering reality by Amanda, who criticizes him as being a

“selfish dreamer.” But, Tom has made steps to escape into reality by

transferring the payment of a light bill to pay for his dues in the

Merchant Seaman’s Union.

Another symbol, which deals with both Amanda and Laura, is Jim

O’Connor. To Laura, Jim represents the one thing she fears and does

not want to face, reality. Jim is a perfect example of “the common

man.” A person with no real outstanding quality. In fact, Jim is

rather awkward, which can be seen when he dances with Laura. To

Amanda, Jim represents the days of her youth, when she went frolicking

about picking jonquils and supposedly having “seventeen gentlemen

callers on one Sunday afternoon.” Although Amanda desires to see Laura

settled down with a nice young man, it is hard to tell whether she

wanted a gentleman caller to be invited for Laura or for herself.

One symbol which is rather obvious is Laura’s glass menagerie.

Her collection of glass represents her own private world. Set apart

from reality, a place where she can hide and be safe. The events that

happen to Laura’s glass affects Laura’s emotional state greatly. When

Amanda tells Laura to practice typing, Laura instead plays with her

glass. When Amanda is heard walking up the fire escape, she quickly

hides her collection. She does this to hide her secret world from the

others. When Tom leaves to go to the movies in an angered rush, he

accidentally breaks some of Laura’s glass. The shattered glass

represents Laura’s understanding of Tom’s responsibilities to her.

Also, the unicorn, which is important, represents Laura directly.

Laura points out to Jim that the unicorn is different, just as she is

different. She also points out that the unicorn does not complain of

being different, as she does not complain either. And when Jim breaks

the horn off the unicorn, Laura points out that now it is like the

other horses, just as Laura has shed some of her shyness and become

more normal. When she hands the broken unicorn to Jim, this might

represent Laura handing over her broken love to Jim, as Jim has

revealed that he is engaged to be married.

As can be seen, there are quite a few symbols in this play. And a

number of them have diverse meanings. Most of these symbols have a

direct meaning in the author’s own life. This is understandable seeing

that the play is supposed to be “memory play.” It is obvious that this

memory play is based on Williams’ own memories.