Symbolism in "The Glass Menagerie"

          Nobody is capable of perfection. Though, this does not pose a hindrance to most people. Most often, people deal with their imperfections, but others can go on and ignore their flaw in its entirety. Amanda, Laura, and Tom Wingfield are the three main character’s of Tennessee Williams play, The Glass Menagerie, who all three are hindered from moving forward from their impoverished apartment by their imperfections. Through his use of symbolism, Williams conveys the idea that no one is flawless.

          Amanda Wingfield’s distorted view of the past comes forth in a few chief ways. The largest of which is her tendency to reminisce. In the first scene of the play, Amanda told Tom and Laura of her 17 Gentleman callers, lingering on this part of her past yet again, “Tom. Again? Laura. She loves to tell it” (Scene 1, 772). When greeting Jim when he comes over for dinner, she speaks to him about her gentleman callers in Blue Mountain. She has a tendency to act younger than she is, as is demonstrated when she begins to talk, the projector shows an image, “[Image on screen: Amanda as a girl]” (Scene 6, 794). Another action that she does is cling to old items that are from her better years. “Now we see AMANDA; her hair is in metal curlers and she is wearing a very old bathrobe, much too large for her slight figure, a relic of the faithless MR. WINGFIELD” (Scene 3, 778). Her husband’s old robe that she clings in to scene 3 symbolizes her hope or dream that her husband will one day return. Her dress from her childhood is yellow from age, manifesting the meaning that her youth has passed, though she still holds on to it. “She wears a girlish frock of yellowed voile with a blue silk sash. She carries a bunch of jonquils-the legend of her youth is nearly revised” (scene 6, 791). In general, Amanda lives in the past and rejects her present situation, creating a void in her character that causes her to be unable to move on.

          Tom Wingfield’s constant escapes symbolize either his unwillingness or inability to embrace his situation. His most common retreat of going out to “the movies” symbolizes his lust for adventure, as his current situation is devoid of such. In scene three, he gets into an argument with Amanda, and makes up a lie about him actually being a criminal, showing his yearn to leave, even if it involves lying to his mother. His need for adventure comes from his boring job at the warehouse, and he says so himself, “Man is by instinct a lover, hunter, a fighter, and none of those instincts are given much play at the warehouse!” (783). Another form of Tom’s escapes is when he writes poetry. He was writing something before he was interrupted by Amanda in scene three, symbolizing how Amanda is holding him back from what he want’s to do. “The upright typewriter now stands on the drop-leaf table, along with a wild disarray of manuscripts. The quarrel was probably precipitated by AMANDA’s interruption of TOM’s creative labor” (scene 3, 779). He was also fired from the warehouse in scene 7, for writing poetry on the lid of a shoebox, representing how his job did not suit him. By not accepting reality, Tom risks his job and the welfare of his family, choosing his evasions instead.                    

          Laura is so shy that she keeps herself isolated from society. Throughout the play, her glass menagerie is used as symbolism. Glass is fragile in nature, just as Laura is shy and is easily frightened by normal life. “Tom. Oh-with Laura? Laura is-terribly shy” (scene 6, 792). Jim’s conversation with her changes her life, similar to when the horn is broken off of her glass unicorn, it fit’s in with the rest of the glass horses. “Laura. Now he will feel more at home with the other horses, the ones that don’t have horns…” (scene 7, 804). It is very hard for Laura to function outside of her own home, as is shown in a few ways. On her way out of the house in scene four, she trips, indicating that she is not fit to leave her home yet. Laura also dropped out of College because she was too nervous, reinforcing this symbol, “Amanda. She said ‘The first time we gave a speed test, she broke down completely-was sick at the stomach and almost had to be carried into the wash room! After that morning she never showed up anymore’” (scene 2, 775). Laura happily dismisses life outside of her glass menagerie, burdening her by not allowing her to function well outside of it.

          In The Glass Menagerie, the symbolism shows that everyone has their own imperfections. Amanda embellishes her youth, because it is better than her current situation. Due to his homely life, Tom distracts himself with his poetry and movies. Laura diverts her time to her glass menagerie for the reason that she is too timid to deal with reality. No individual is perfect, but no body should let that get in their way of life.


[Quotes from textbook "Elements of Literature Fifth Course"(c) 1993, 1989 by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Inc.]