The Glass Menagerie Drama Reaction Paper
The Glass Menagerie Drama Reaction Paper
ENG 125
September 19, 2012
Heather Carlopio
The Glass Menagerie
In this week’s Drama literary composition The Glass Menagerie the author Tennessee Williams tells the story of a poor family of three living in a small apartment. The story takes place in the early 1900s and most of the scenes take place in their apartment. The drama was set from the beginning of the story when the author first determines that Laura has a disability, and she is unsure of herself. The drama plot thickens once the author explains how Tom in the story took over the role as the man of the house to fill the void of his absent father. Tom has to step up and be the provider for his mother and sister in the story. Tom yearns for a better life, not because he is selfish, but because he needs "to escape from a trap he must react without pity” (Williams, 2011, p. 1246-1291) and leave his family to find a meaningful existence and detach himself from self-preservation and selfish ignorance.
The tragic hero theory of “Life would be better anywhere but here” (Williams, 2011, p. 1246-1291) allows the readers to understand the frustration Tom is experiencing as a provider for the family. Tom just wants a change, he is not sure what the change is he is looking for, but he is just ready to be free of the captivity of his mother and sister. Tom never expresses that he wants to escape from his family, but it is apparent that he wanted some kind of happiness just for himself. The symbol behind this play represents a way of escape between reality and illusion, for example the fire escape represents a gap between illusion and the world of reality. Tom’s perspective of the fire escape is his ticket out of his mother Amanda, and Laura his sister.
Laura was the complete opposite of Tom; she was looking for a way of fitting or connecting with people because she was so unsure of herself because of her handicap. The only thing Laura has is her
ENG 125
September 19, 2012
Heather Carlopio
The Glass Menagerie
In this week’s Drama literary composition The Glass Menagerie the author Tennessee Williams tells the story of a poor family of three living in a small apartment. The story takes place in the early 1900s and most of the scenes take place in their apartment. The drama was set from the beginning of the story when the author first determines that Laura has a disability, and she is unsure of herself. The drama plot thickens once the author explains how Tom in the story took over the role as the man of the house to fill the void of his absent father. Tom has to step up and be the provider for his mother and sister in the story. Tom yearns for a better life, not because he is selfish, but because he needs "to escape from a trap he must react without pity” (Williams, 2011, p. 1246-1291) and leave his family to find a meaningful existence and detach himself from self-preservation and selfish ignorance.
The tragic hero theory of “Life would be better anywhere but here” (Williams, 2011, p. 1246-1291) allows the readers to understand the frustration Tom is experiencing as a provider for the family. Tom just wants a change, he is not sure what the change is he is looking for, but he is just ready to be free of the captivity of his mother and sister. Tom never expresses that he wants to escape from his family, but it is apparent that he wanted some kind of happiness just for himself. The symbol behind this play represents a way of escape between reality and illusion, for example the fire escape represents a gap between illusion and the world of reality. Tom’s perspective of the fire escape is his ticket out of his mother Amanda, and Laura his sister.
Laura was the complete opposite of Tom; she was looking for a way of fitting or connecting with people because she was so unsure of herself because of her handicap. The only thing Laura has is her
References: Barnet, S., Burto, W., & Cain, W. E. (2011). Literature for composition essays, stories, poems and plays (9th ed). pp. 1246-1291. New York: Longman.