symbolism

Throughout much of the Glass Menagerie there is symbolism. Weather the symbolism is in the name Blue roses, which Jim calls Lora, or the unique glass unicorn. The Glass Menagerie, written by Tennessee Williams, consists of a brother. sister, and a nagging mother. “In his drama, the Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams uses symbolism in order to develop multi-faceted characters and to display the recurring themes of the play. These various symbols appear throughout the entire piece, and they are usually disguised as objects or imagery” Within the story Williams hides many hidden meaning or symbols. Symbols are the used to represent an underline meaning, instead of come out and saying it. There are two main symbols that show up in the play; the glass menagerie, and the fire escape.
In the story Laura, the sister of Tom, has a special glass menagerie that she entertains herself with. A glass menagerie is a collection of small, glassed shaped animals, that are usually put on a shelf as decoration. From the title of Williams story, it shows what the one of most important symbol in the play is, Laura’s glass menagerie.
Laura is a unique character of the play. She is very much quiet and unenthusiastic about life. “Her collection of glass represents her own private world. Set apart from reality, a place where she can hide and be safe. The events that happen to Laura’s glass affects Laura’s emotional state greatly” (Symbolism n.p.) Instead of doing what her mother asked of her, Laura would play with her glass collection. On other instances, Laura would play with her glass collection until her mother was heard walking up the fire escape and then she would start doing something her mother approved of. Near the end of the play, when Tom le...

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...rest of the world. The animals also represent the state of her mind, which is full of imagination and unrealistic ideas” (Jordan n.p.). One the other hand the fire escape symbolizes the escape from the frustrating family, and fighting for Tom. Just like his father, Tom eventually ends up leaving his life behind, by escaping from what he was once caught up in. Through Toms constant going to the movies, it shows that he does not want to be home with his mother and sister. “Significantly, the fire escape is the path of escape is the path of escape for all male characters involved in the play: the father flees his responsibilities to his family, Tom emulates his father in also fleeing, and Jim, the “gentleman-caller” makes a hasty exit from Laura” (Westwood n.p.) In the end there are two main symbols that show up in the play; the glass menagerie, and the fire escape.