...Thomas Lanier Williams was born on March 26th, 1911 in Columbus, Mississippi. Williams wrote fiction and motion picture screenplays but is recognized for his plays. Thomas was the first son and second child of Cornelius Coffin and Edwina Dakin Williams. He was named after his grandfather and he insisted on being called Tom by the age of ten. His siblings include an older sister named Rose and a younger brother named Dakin. Williams spent a great deal of time with his sister Rose because she was not very stable, emotionally or mentally. Daryl E. Haley once said that Rose "was emotionally disturbed and destined to spend most of her life in mental institutions." His mother raised Tom because his father was a traveling shoe salesman. Edwina Dakin Williams was the daughter of a minister and very over protective of Thomas. She began to be over protective after he caught Diphtheria when he was five years old. His mother was also an aggressive woman caught up in her fantasies of genteel southern living. Amanda Wingfield, a character in his play The Glass Menagerie, was modeled after Williams' mother. Cornelius Coffin Williams, Tom's father, spent most of his time on the road. Cornelius came from a very prestigious family that included Mississippi's very first governor and senator. Mr. Haley also states that Tom's father was "at turns distant and abusive," that is, when he was actually around. Toms father also repeatedly favored his younger brother Dakin over both of his older children...
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...Fiction Vs. Reality: Tennessee Williams’s Influences “There is a fine line between a fictionalized autobiography or memoir and autobiographical fiction. In both cases, the author uses tidbits about his or her life. The difference is to what extent” (Houston par. 1).Tennessee Williams was a man who had many stories to share of his experiences and all of the different influences he has had throughout his life. In both Tennessee Williams’s Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, he bases his characters off of his own mother, sister, and homosexuality. Tennessee Williams grew up with his mother and grandparents being his biggest influences of people to look toward because his father was a traveling businessman and not around much. His...
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...Analysis and Plot Summary of “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams Before beginning this summary and analysis of “Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams, it is important to point out that this play is not happening in the narrator’s (Tom’s) present, but it is based on his memories. The setting of “The Glass Menagerie” is a cramped apartment in a lower-class part of St. Louis in the year 1937. The main character and narrator of “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams, Tom, is in a merchant sailor’s uniform and he details the setting even further, telling us that America’s lower classes are still recovering from the Great Depression. In the early stages of the plot of the Glass Menagerie, we also learn that his father left the family a long time ago, even though there is a picture of him that is plain sight throughout “The Glass Menagerie”. While Tom is speaking (as well as throughout the play) pay attention to the screen which presents certain words and images important to the text and try to imagine how this might be if you were sitting in the audience. In these first few scenes of “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams, we meet the mother, Amanda, who still seems caught up in her life as a former Southern belle. She chides both of her children about being odd (Laura wears a brace on her leg and is painfully shy while Tom writes poetry and disappears every night to go the movies and get away from the depressing house). Laura is a fragile figure and collects glass...
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...encounter through the eyes of the son, Thomas, who is also the narrator. Much of the symbolism employed in this drama is directly related to the authors own personal life experiences, giving main focus to his family relationships and the troubles with his father. The script is about a family a four, a mother, a father, an older sister, and a younger brother. The characters in this drama are almost identical to the author himself, in some respect as well as to his parents and older sister in real life. Written in 1945 by Tennessee Williams (Thomas Lanier Williams), The Glass Menagerie depicts a family of three who live in a small apartment in the city. They struggle emotionally and monetarily while mourning the disappearance of their father, who has abandoned the family and moved over seas. Not only does the entire script appear as though it was actual reality for the author himself, but the characters in the play are quite similar to Tennessee’s own family in many ways. In The Glass Menagerie, Tom’s father is a hard drinker, and a telephone salesman who spends most of his time away from home until one day, out of the blue he disappears with no warning. The family later receives a postcard from Mazatlan with nothing more than, “Hello & Goodbye” written on the back. Although Tennessee’s father, Cornelius Williams did not move away and abandon his family as the character in this script did, he still has some of the similarities of the father in the script. Cornelius himself...
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...Menagerie is a play written in 1945 by Tennessee Williams. Tennessee Williams was a major American playwright and one of the greatest playwriters in the twentieth century. Tennessee Williams was born in Columbus, Mississippi, on March 26, 1911. The name "Tennessee" was a name given to him by college friends because of his southern accent and his father's background in Tennessee. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for A Streetcar Named Desire in 1948 and for Cat On a Hot Tin Roof in 1955. In addition to those two plays, he also won award for The Glass Menagerie in 1945. The Glass Menagerie is a touching play about the dreams of a southern family and their struggle to escape reality. The play is set in an apartment in St. Louis in 1937. Tom Wingfield serves as the narrator as well as a character in the play. Tom is determined and hard working man who works in the Continental Shoemaker’s factory. Tom lives with his Southern mother, Amanda, who is proud and confident woman and his shy and crippled sister, Laura. Another character is Jim O’Conner who is a friend of tom from the factory who tom invites to dinner and Laura’s first gentleman caller. The main action of the play is about Amanda's search to find Laura a gentleman caller. The Glass Menagerie's plot is parallel to the actual events in the author's life. The central theme of the play is escape from reality and many symbols in the story support this theme. Tennessee Williams adds life to the play by using symbols. The title...
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...June 13, 2013 Article Review A leading community health concern throughout the Upper Cumberland of Tennessee is diabetes. The Diabetes Center at Cookeville Regional Medical Center offers informative education about diabetes. The background provides the ability to educate patients and family with the skills needed to self-manage his or her health. Patients with diabetes can expect to live a full and productive life, however; changes in lifestyle and diet are necessary. The Diabetes Center focuses on teaching patients the proper ways of making the alterations easier so as to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Community Health Issue for Nashville Diabetes has and always will come into the general category of a serious health issue throughout the United States. However, the disease is particularly problematic in Tennessee (Sanders, n.d.). The state holds the sixth highest position in the country that pertains to what percentage of individuals suffering with diabetes compare to that of the general population (Sanders, n.d.). As a result of the mortality rate brought on by diabetes-related deaths, Tennessee ranks the 10th highest in the United States. In 2007, statistics showed signs that 11.9% of the entire adult population living in Tennessee has developed and is living with diabetes (Sanders, n.d.). Affects on Community The residents of Tennessee are progressively sensing, and experiencing the effects of diabetes. A remarkably high percentage of the...
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...As one of the signers of the constitution, William Blount was one of the more memorable delegates to participate in the constitution. He represented North Carolina in the signing of the Constitution. William Blount was not only one of the delegates to sign the constitution, but was known for being involved in the government of the southwest territory, having confliction with the Senate, and also leaving a legacy on the state of Tennessee. William Blount was born in 1749 at his grandfather’s estate near Windsor, NC. He was born into one of the wealthiest families in North Carolina due to the legacy his great grandfather left. His great grandfather Thomas Blount, who came from England to Virginia soon after 1660 and settled on a North Carolina...
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...Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a touching play about the lost dreams of a southern family and their struggle to escape reality. The play is a memory play and therefore very poetic in mood, setting, and dialogue. Tom Wingfield serves as the narrator as well as a character in the play. Tom lives with his Southern belle mother, Amanda, and his painfully shy sister, Laura. According to Margaret Thornton: “William wrote to himself about himself” (1). Thus, Glass Menagerie’s plot closely mirrors actual events in the author's life. Because Williams related so well to the characters and situations, he was able to portray the play's theme through his creative use of symbolism. The Glass Menagerie reflects Williams's own life so much that it could be mistaken from his autobiography. The characters and situations of the play are much like those found in the small St. Louis apartment where Williams spent part of his life. Williams himself can be seen in the character Tom. Critic writer Andrea Peterson states: “The third Williams child, a boy named Dakin was born after the family moved from Columbus to St. Louis, Missouri, when Thomas was eight. It wasn’t long before the general malaise and unhappiness in young Thomas Lanier’s life would lead him to writing as an escape” (1). One not so obvious character is Mr. Wingfield, who is the absent father seen only by the looming picture hanging in the Wingfield's apartment. Tom and Williams both had fathers...
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...How does Tennessee Williams present the character of Blanche in Scene 1 of the play? In scene 1 of the play ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, Tennessee Williams presents Blanche as a dependent character who relies on the company of others but attempts to keep this insecurity hidden. Although Blanche may appear to be dominant and outspoken, she secretly fears to be alone. The command ‘You hear me? I said stand up!’ establishes Blanche’s authority and gives the impression of dominance however this highly contrasts with Blanche’s statement ‘I want to be near you, got to be with somebody, I can’t be alone!’ The contrast of these two statements highlights the dynamics of their relationship as it suggests Blanche is more reliant on Stella than she makes out to be. Williams has done this in order to reveal Blanche’s true character to the audience by illustrating her fears of being ‘alone’ which clearly establishes how dependant she is on her sister. Tennessee Williams depicts Blanche’s jealousy of her sister’s marriage and appearance which illustrates her as an envious and insecure character. This is evident after Blanche confesses the loss of Belle Reve and how she was forced t o deal with the unfortunate situation alone. Blanche questions Stella ‘Where were you! In bed with your – Polack!’ to defend herself and place blame on Stella. This illustrates Blanche’s jealousy over how Stella was able to escape and start off a new life in New Orleans and find security in a marriage while she has...
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...Breaking the Victimizing Bonds Despite being portrayed as the villain of his mother’s unknown fate, Tom Wingfield in “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams is a victim held in the life pillaging bonds of his father’s mistakes and the suffocating pressure of his mother Amanda. Thrashing to break free of his bonds, Tom brings about harm and resentment to his family as he abandons his home responsibilities to fulfill the responsibilities he has set for himself. As a victim in his own life Tom’s fate is unavoidable. The reader’s villainizing view of Tom’s leave is onset by his preceding to leave despite his father’s absence, his mother’s inability to fulfill her roles, and her unobtainable goals; however, these tragic couplings of events...
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... Many critics believe that “The Glass Menagerie” is one of Tennessee Williams finest literary pieces, and that like most of his work, it was a reflection of his own life story. Born as Thomas Lanier Williams III on March 26, 1911, in Columbus, Mississippi, he lived with his loving but possessive mother and his older sister, Rose, who later suffered a mental breakdown. His father was a hard man who tended to drink too much and who was often away from home due to his job as a traveling salesman. Through most of his childhood, Mr. Williams felt like an outcast due to both his delicate health and the ridicule he received for his southern accent after his father accepted a job in St. Louis. This ongoing theme of lack of self-worth throughout his life was in large part due to his sexual orientation and lifestyle both of which were not easily tolerated in the early part of the last century. Although Mr. Williams self-doubt is evident in much of his work, the rest of the literary world and his readers feel without a doubt that his work is award winning. His impact on the literary world can be seen by the many awards he received including his winning not one but two Pulitzer Prizes for “A Streetcar Named Desire” in 1948 and for “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” in 1955; as well as the longevity of his work which is proven by its contemporary recognition. Therefore, due to his literary genius and personal life experience, Williams was able to use the powerful combination of style, symbolism...
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...To conform is to comply with rules, standards, or laws-to behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards, or to be similar in form or type. Partaking in these actions can lead someone to become so unhappy that they end up taking drastic measures in order to find satisfaction. In the playwright The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams suggests that conforming can cause to an individual to hate their life, so much so that they can even turn to harmful behaviors-such as drinking, to forget their depression. Tennessee Williams reveals how Tom’s tendency to be passive, his hate for a realistic life, and his selfish disposition cause him to be unhappy due to conforming. Tom’s tendency to be passive is apparent from his first conversation...
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...The Symbolic Views of a Glass Menagerie Symbols play a vital role in everyone’s day-to-day life, now when you think of glass as a symbol, what’s the first thought that comes to mind? As you might have suspected, “The Glass Menagerie” is full of hidden symbols which are utilized throughout the play and are unique while playing a vital role in telling the story. The most obvious symbol in this play would be Laura's glass sculptures, also known as her glass menagerie. Besides the menagerie, there are various symbols throughout the play such as movies and a magician, the fire escape, a Unicorn, and leg braces. Each of these symbols adds to the negativity this household endures as a whole while also adding inspiration when needed. Symbols come in many forms; Tennessee Williams once said “When the sounds are harsh they suggest external realities; when they are soft they identify a thought or gently echo an idea identified before, binding the play together.". These various symbols scattered around the play all have different meaning, but in the end, pull the entire play together with strong meaning, deep influence, and harsh reality. Laura's glass sculpture collection also known as the glass menagerie utilizes powerful meaning with a harsh reality of being easily broken. The glass menagerie is an accurate representation of Laura's life and personality. Having a glass figurine collection is difficult to maintain while being one of the most fragile materials such as Laura, and tends...
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...outlaw and he was in acquaintance with William Carver and Ben Kilpatrick of Butch Cassidy's WIld Bunch. She would soon become involved with both of these men at some point in her lifetime. At the age of 13 she was introduced to William and Ben. Her aunt had been married to William but died soon after the marriage from fever. She then become romantically involved with William. She then became working as a prostitute. She soon became an official member of the gang. Laura would sell stolen goods, forge signatures and also gather different types of supplies. At...
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...Rhetorical Analysis of Glass Menagerie The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a play about the narrator turned hero named Tom. Tom works at a shoe warehouse and writes poetry in his free time; while also taking on the responsibilities of his family after his father left. The mother Amanda lives in her memories of gentleman callers and parties, while avoiding the reality of her crippled daughter Laura who is in a dream world of little glass animals. Her mother seeing no future for her, she gets Tom to find a bachelor for Laura and invite him to dinner. Instead Tom brings home Jim his employee and also unknown secret idol of Laura’s from high school. Jim gets her from out this dream world, but when he breaks off bad news of him being engaged Laura withdraws for good. Angering the mother and eventually leading to Tom leaving as his father did. In this play Tennessee Williams uses a multitude of symbols. From these symbols, there comes deeper understanding of the relationship between the play’s four characters. The most obvious symbol in this play is Laura’s glass menagerie, representing the world she lives in. Being that this glass menagerie is a representation of Laura’s world. I understood that when Jim bumped into the table and knocked the menagerie over causing it shatter; Laura picking up the pieces then handing it to Jim, showed then that she wanted Jim to be her world/her happiness. Another recurring symbol is that of the fire escape. Each symbol is a concrete...
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