Glass Menagerie

One of the most prominent themes found in Tennessee Williams’ play, The Glass Menagerie, is the conflict between one’s illusions and reality. This is exemplified by each of the family members as they struggle to come to terms with reality and as a result, resort to a fantasy world to try and cope with their dissatisfaction with life. Laura is separated from reality and has a hard time adjusting to modern society. The world she lives in holds the comfort and meaning that the real world does not provide for her, and it consists of her imaginary friends, the glass menagerie. She brings her glass animals to life, and gives them a personality where they have their own feelings and can tell her what they like and what they do not like. Laura’s glass menagerie collection is very important to her. It provides her an alternative life in which she can live separated to reality. Not only is she separated from reality, but she also has a hard time fitting in with modern society. Her illusions are deeply rooted in her severe insecurities and social anxiety. She has the tendency to put herself down because of her ill-conceived notion of a disability and fear of rejection which prevents her from establishing any relationship outside her immediate family, be it friendly or romantic. Tom has dreams of his fantasy world, of adventures, and of literary greatness. However, he is torn between them and the moral obligation he feels toward his unfortunate family. Hence, he reduces himself to a slave working at the factory to support his mother and sister; and the only way he can get the slightest sense of freedom is by going to the movies. And now he is making his dream a reality, for when Amanda played down the last straw, accusing him of being selfish. He decides to put it all behind him. A few days later he leaves his family all together in search of a better life as a merchant marine. When he has left home, he has also left behind a world of illusion, illusion of being trapped