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The Glass Menagerie and Aristotle's Poetics

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The Glass Menagerie and Aristotle's Poetics
Madeline Caughey

4 April 2013

Professor Wivlagg

English 102

“The Relationship of Aristotle's Poetics to Modern Dramatic Tragedy as Exhibited in Tennessee

William's The Glass Menagerie”

Aristotle's poetics were created by Aristotle himself and they were a literary work of his dramatic

theory. “The Glass Menagerie” is a play written by, Tennessee Williams, that exemplifies Aristotle's

opinion of poetry being an imitation of life or a mythos. It is also a tragedy because it follows

Aristotle's poetic guidelines. Aristotle said in order for a plot to be a tragedy it must always involve

some sort of undone or done deed. An error must also occur on behalf of the hero in order to be a

tragedy. “The Glass Menagerie” is a tragedy because Laura's shyness led her to not being with the only

man she ever wanted to be with.

“The Glass Menagerie”, is a story based on the misfortunes of Tom, Amanda, and Laura. It is set in

St. Louis, during the year 1937. Amanda is the overbearing mother of Tom and Laura. Tom works in a

shoe warehouse, but longs for adventure and prefers to spend his time watching movies and reading

literature. Laura is her crippled and awkwardly shy daughter who needs a “suitor”. After her mother,

Amanda, discovered Laura had been skipping classes at college she decided it was time for Laura to

find herself a husband. Laura doubted ever finding a man because of her painful timidity and leg

brace. Tom then tells his mother of a man named, Jim O'Connor, who would suit his sister. Tom quickly

invites Jim over for dinner. Amanda went overboard with her ostentatious dress and outgoing spirit,

while Laura hid nearly the whole time. Due to a power outage, Laura and Jim were forced to spend

some time with each other. Their conversations started out awkward and quick, but Jim's warm and

gentle personality broke through Laura's shell, opening her up to Jim. Laura confesses her love she had
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