symbols of glass and the theme of cowardice, is self- image. The way these characters view themselves, and each other, bind them together and tear them apart simultaneously. In fact, the symbol of glass and the theme of self- consciousness are tied together in the mirror that hangs in their apartment. Eric P. Levy writes, the mirror “becomes a vital symbol of the act of self-consciousness by which a character apprehends his or her self-image” (529). We see these themes throughout the
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Tom Wingfield is a determined young man. He has decided against everyone else in his family's wishes that he wants to leave the dismal life of a factory job, to pursue a chance in the Merchant Marines. He realizes that he would be running off like his father and this is probably the only thing that kept him from leaving this long. Amanda, Tom's mother, deep down knows the day is coming that Tom will leave. She says "But not till there's someone to take your place." She wants Laura, if not herself
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author reveals the truth about Tom’s unhappiness. He craves adventure, excitement, new experiences, and at the warehouse where he works there isn’t much. Tom tries to take actions into his own hands and sets up a dinner with a gentlemen caller for his sister. Although, things don’t go accordingly to plan and the dinner turns into a disaster, Tom ends up a tragic hero and feeling
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Menagerie: Scene 1-7 Study Guide NAME__________________ Scene 1 1. Describe the physical setting of the play. 2. How is Tom dressed as the play begins? Why? 3. Why does Tom’s speech open with a comparison of his role to that of a stage magician? 4. What is a “memory play”? 5. Why does Tom say there is a fifth character in the play? 6. What do we discover about Tom’s life at home in the brief first scene? 7. What do we learn about
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I like how the author used symbolism to portray each of the characters that realistically represents an individual in every family household. The Wingfield family is just like every other family that has a hard time coping with the reality that life presents so they create individual illusions to distort their frustrations and fears. With the common goal to sugar-coat the bitterness of the reality, each of the four main characters has their individual coping mechanism that makes them unique and
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Menagerie” Williams introduces one of his characters as being trapped in the past. If there was a specific character type that identifies the dramatic writing ability of Williams it would be that of Amanda Wingfield. She was raised in a southern home atmosphere with a traditional lifestyle. Similar to Amanda, these southern traditional women have a hard time coming to grips with the ideas and practices of contemporary life. Amanda, the play’s most extroverted character, is overwhelmed by depression due to
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Williams begins this symbolic journey from the very inception of the work. The use of the word “menagerie” meaning a collection of wild animals kept in captivity for exhibition or a strange collection. In this case, the strange collection is the Wingfields. The play and the text presents us with an overbearing mother who clings to yesterday year, a daughter that is mentally bound by her psychological insecurities that stem from her physical disability, and an irresponsible brother who want to escape
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work was written as an allegory of his own life’s disappointments. The characters, lighting, glass, and even the props all prove to be somewhat symbolic in nature. In the play a southern family, trapped by poverty and codependency, struggles to survive in St. Louis. The story is narrated by Tom Wingfield who struggles with choosing between his own personal dreams versus accepting the reality of his families situation. Tom and his family live in an alley apartment and survive mainly on Tom's salary
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might suspect that Jim’s plans are pure fancy, and that he’s placed too much faith in a hollow dream” (Ehrenhaft 16). The play centers around Amanda Wingfield and her son, Jim and her daughter, Laura and the struggles they face living in a small, run-down apartment in St. Louis. Out of all the characters in the play, Laura seems to be the main character who draws on this theme of reality versus illusion: “Laura is unable to hold a job and or interact socially with others and retreats into a world of
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well-rounded character from a play of your choice. Tom Wingfield introduces himself as an ambitious man who wishes to escape his own reality in Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (1945). He is the breadwinner of his family, providing for his mother, Amanda, and his sister, Laura, by working at a “shoe factory where his father worked” (1612). Tom narrates the play from his dreamer perspective. He constantly goes to see movies in an attempt to provide adventure to his lackluster life. At first Tom struck
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