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Glass Menagerie

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Glass Menagerie
Dayanna Mazo
Essay #1 In a Glass MenagerieGlass, Tennesee Williams reflects some of the social norms, roles, and values of its time. The glass itself, represents fragility and as a medium for decorative items, it is considered beautiful. The menagerie is a collection, representing variety. The glass menagerie serves as a means of fantasy and escape for Laura. She draws into a private world of illusion where she finds the comfort and meaning that the real world does not seem to offer. The private world in which she lives is populated by glass animals—objects that, like Laura’s inner life, the incredibly fanciful and dangerously delicate. It is clear that Laura doesn't fit in or has no place in the "modern world" and that she is like the unicorn, both before and after the horn is broken off. The horn however, symbolizes her heart while the unicorn in itself it's her detachment from the real world. She realizes how she should not be touched when she tells jim "If you breathe...it breaks." Laura's tragic state without including the metaphor of her being a glass figure, forever encased in her mother's house without the only person that understands her. This is not the real tragedy, but the that she is a broken unicorn who is fated to become a regular horse. A "blessing in disguise" is what Laura calls it for it happened when Jim asked her to dance with him. However when Jim turns out to be engaged she gives him the unicorn in a "look what you broke in me." “Glass breaks so easily. No matter how careful you are.” Laura is physically disabled, shy and is psychologically handicapped by her refusal to deal with her circumstances. However, Laura is then lets her circumstance mentally handicap her as well. She is viewed as helpless by many which is why her mom Amanda is so desperate in finding Laura a husband because she thinks no man will look at her daughter and want to marry her for her difference. Lauras mom is stuck in her selfish ways, she really wnats to find

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