Stereotypes In The Glass Menagerie

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Recommended: Tom's role in the glass menagerie

In The Glass Menagerie is a story about a disintegrating family from the south. There were issues with social anxiety, the struggle between social norms and reality, and values during the time it was written. Gender roles are also has a very big influence on the characters. In the drama the women seem to be weak. Laura is disabled, bashful, and has mental issues. It is important understand that the character of Laura suffers a great deal from social anxiety because of her low self-confidence and bashfulness. Amanda wants her to marry to secure her future and not really true love, she tells her, "I've seen such pitiful cases in the South, barely tolerated spinsters living upon the grudging patronage of sister's husband or brother's wife! Stuck …show more content…

In the drama Amanda says to Tom, “You are the only young man that I know of who ignores the fact that the future becomes the present, the present becomes the past, and the past turns into everlasting regret if you don’t plan for it”(3.5.13) This statement is very true but not just for Tom but everyone because they always seem to let time slip away, everything they once aspired to do always becomes a thing of the past. Laura is the one who collects the menagerie but they all needed to understand that just like that glass it should make you think of how beautiful it is on the outside and how it can easily it can be shattered, something that applies to Laura’s delicate character. I think that in Tom’s closing speech he reminisces about his travels since he left St. Louis. He believes that he made the best decisions by following in his father’s footsteps. Tom didn’t really get the experience he was hoping for being a merchant he says, “cities swept about me like dead leaves…. Torn from the branches.” I believe this statement means that the world traveled didn’t quite suit him and chasing the rainbows he was doomed. You see adventure, romance, and excitement in the movies but pursing them in real life lead to shade and misconception. Trying to keep up with the social class and norms of the

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