The Glass Menagerie

A detailed Summary of 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


Laura's understanding of Tom's responsibilities to her. Also, the unicorn, which

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

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

unicorn does not complain of being different, as she does not complain either.

Laura, Jim represents the one thing she fears and does not want to face, reality.

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

Another symbol, which deals with both Amanda and Laura, is Jim O'Connor. To

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quality. In fact, Jim is rather awkward, which can be seen when he dances with

glass represents her own private world. Set apart from reality, a place where

is important, represents Laura directly. Laura points out to Jim that the

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



Some common words found in the essay are:
Amanda Jim, Amanda Laura, Laura Jim, Williams Williams, Jim Jim, fire escape, Seaman's Union, laura's glass, glass menagerie, world reality, Menagerie Symbols, symbols play, laura jim, Glass Menagerie, fire escape world, escape world, memory play, glass represents, escape reality,

Approximate Word count = 671
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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