The Glass Menagerie
By: Joe M., Emanuel M., Adrian M., Graham O. Choices of the Author
Hubris
Symbolism
Character Foil Hubris
Hubris: A great or foolish amount of pride or confidence
Amanda Wingfield
Euphoria for the past
17 Gentleman Callers
Scene I
Unrealistic Expectations for Children
Lack of Motivation from both Laura and Tom Symbolism
Glass
Symbol for Laura: brittle, fragile representing sensitivity
Amanda and Tom arguments always end with glass breaking
Scene 3: Tom hits shelf of glass with overcoat
“Laura cries out as if wounded” (24)
Scene 7: Tom smashes his glass on the floor
“Laura screams in fright” (96)
At the peak of the fight when it has ended, someone leaves Character Foil
Foil: A foil is another character in a story who contrasts with the main character, usually to highlight one of their attributes
Jim to Tom
That really good friend that does everything better and your parents are like why you can’t be like them.
Tom: Lacks ambition and goes to movies
Jim: Big dreams and public speaking classes
Laura to Amanda Literary Lenses
Marxist
Psychoanalytic
New Historicism Marxist
The Wingfields, members middle class, function under the brutal economic laws of capitalist society during the Great Depression of the 1930's.
Tom Wingfield is “a poet in a warehouse”
I go to the movies because I like adventure. Adventure is something I don't have much at work, so I go to the movies. (Williams, 39). The temper of work in the warehouse does not satisfy Tom’s poetic ambitions
This foreshadows Tom’s to escape from his life of hard labor and to enroll in The Union of Merchant Seamen Marxist (Contd.)
Theme 1: Alienation within the workforce
ambitions do not lie in the warehouse
Theme 2: Limitations of Capitalism
Inequality, visible in Tom’s dependency on unfulfilling manual labor Psychoanalytic
Motif: Escape and Imprisonment
Tom Wingfield
“Yes, I have tricks in my pocket, I have things up my sleeve. But I am the opposite of a stage magician. He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion.” (Scene 1)
The Fire escape
Laura
The Glass Menagerie
The Unicorn Psychoanalytic (Contd.)
Theme 1: Escape is only a dream that cannot be obtained.
Fake realities
Laura ---> Glass Menagerie
Tom ---> Fire Escape and Movie Theaters
Theme 2: Because of financial instability the family is imprisoned to each other.
Tom’s income New Historicism
Great Depression
Drafted men into military for WWII
Increased number of women in the workforce
Laura sent to secretarial college to learn skills for finding employment
Amanda worked to support her family
Amanda decides to find Laura a husband to support her instead of continue finding employment
How she made a living for herself New Historicism (Contd.)
Cinema
Entertainment as a form of escapism in the 1930s
Tom going to the movies to escape his own life at home
Certain industries (oil, gas, cigarettes, and movie tickets) began to make a profit
“The Golden Age of Hollywood” - silent period ended
Travel
Methods of travel expanded during the 1930s New Historicism (Contd.)
Theme 1: Age difference results in contrasting working expectations due to financial needs.
Amanda’s desire to find Laura a gentleman caller
Theme 2: Movies and other forms of entertainment give people a false sense of reality or something to strive for.
Tom going to the movies and wanting to travel Videos for Discussion: Motherly Love Video for Discussion: That Awkward Moment...When the Unicorn Needs a New Change of Scenery Discussion Questions
In what ways does music play a role in the development of the play?
Does the play follow specifically as Tennessee Williams wanted?
Themes/Motifs?
Movie compared to the book?
Other inquiries? THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION!!!