Laura Wingfield In The Glass Menagerie

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Laura Wingfield, a physically and emotionally crippled character, is also the lone character in the production that never does anything to upset someone else. Notwithstanding the encumbrance of her own complications, she exhibits an untainted kindness that stands in plain contrast to the arrogance and resentful sacrifices that characterize the Wingfield family. Laura also has the least amount of lines in the production, which in turn confirms her quality of selflessness. However, she is the axis around which the storyline changes, and the blatant symbols—blue roses, the glass unicorn, and her full glass menagerie—all in some degree characterize her. Laura, like the blue rose or the unicorn, is rare and unconventional, and her disposition is as tender as the glass figurine which she is known so prominently for throughout the production. Other characters appear to adopt the belief that, like a piece of transparent glass, which is monochromatic until light gleams upon it, Laura can assume the role of any color they seem fit. Consequently, Amanda together takes advantage of the juxtaposi...

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