Essay On The Glass Menagerie
Almost all characters in the book "The glass Menagerie" are not ideal citizens of the original American dream, as they do not put action in to their dreams even if their aspirations lack virtue. In the story "The glass menagerie" the character that comes closest to a role model of an ideal citizen who is living out the American dreams of some sort is Jim. Jim has the most motivation in his aspirations to become successful, he also puts actions into his dreams and morally goes about achieving it"I believe in the future of television! I wish to be ready to go up right along with it. Therefore I'm planning to get in on the ground floor. In fact I've already made the right connections and all that remains is for the industry itself to get underway!"(Williams,
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Scene 6). In fact, he enrolls himself in night school to better himself and gain the success he wishes. However he is not quite a role model of an ideal citizen because he lacks religion in his life and as the puritans and the founding father stated, religion is the basis of virtue; that one cannot exist without the other. A good example of a section in the story that highlights Jim decay in virtue is when he kisses Laura even though he is engaged "Jim lights a cigarette and leans indolently back on his elbows smiling at Laura with a warmth and charm which lights her inwardly with altar candles."(Williams, Scene 7) In the play "The Glass Menagerie" Tom is overwhelmed by the restrictions enforced by his mother as well as the responsibility of having to look after his sister.
Dissatisfied, Tom wishes to escape from his lifestyle and enter the poetry business and move forward from there. He wants to peruse a life where his family are not in the picture, he feels as if they are shattering his dreams. Ultimately, Tom wants to escape his reality, become a writer and leave his own family behind "Oh, I can see the handwriting on the wall as plain as I can see the nose in front of my face! It's terrifying! More and more you remind me of your father! He was out all hours without explanation!-Then left! Goodbye! And me with the bag to hold. I saw that letter you got from the Merchant Marine. I know what you're dreaming of. I'm not standing here blindfolded. Very well, then. Then do it! But not till there's somebody to take your place." (Williams, 91) At The end of the story, Tom leaves his family, abandoning Amanda and Laura to pursue an independent future. Tom is not living out the American dream because all that he does for his family he does not feel good about it, expressing the amount of virtue he lacks. The fact that he abandoned his own families emphasizes the point that he is not an ideal citizen because he is not a virtuous person who is seeking moral
happiness.
Scene 6). In fact, he enrolls himself in night school to better himself and gain the success he wishes. However he is not quite a role model of an ideal citizen because he lacks religion in his life and as the puritans and the founding father stated, religion is the basis of virtue; that one cannot exist without the other. A good example of a section in the story that highlights Jim decay in virtue is when he kisses Laura even though he is engaged "Jim lights a cigarette and leans indolently back on his elbows smiling at Laura with a warmth and charm which lights her inwardly with altar candles."(Williams, Scene 7) In the play "The Glass Menagerie" Tom is overwhelmed by the restrictions enforced by his mother as well as the responsibility of having to look after his sister.
Dissatisfied, Tom wishes to escape from his lifestyle and enter the poetry business and move forward from there. He wants to peruse a life where his family are not in the picture, he feels as if they are shattering his dreams. Ultimately, Tom wants to escape his reality, become a writer and leave his own family behind "Oh, I can see the handwriting on the wall as plain as I can see the nose in front of my face! It's terrifying! More and more you remind me of your father! He was out all hours without explanation!-Then left! Goodbye! And me with the bag to hold. I saw that letter you got from the Merchant Marine. I know what you're dreaming of. I'm not standing here blindfolded. Very well, then. Then do it! But not till there's somebody to take your place." (Williams, 91) At The end of the story, Tom leaves his family, abandoning Amanda and Laura to pursue an independent future. Tom is not living out the American dream because all that he does for his family he does not feel good about it, expressing the amount of virtue he lacks. The fact that he abandoned his own families emphasizes the point that he is not an ideal citizen because he is not a virtuous person who is seeking moral
happiness.