Free Glass Menagerie Essays: Symbols :: The Glass Menagerie

Symbols in The Glass zoological garden In the play, The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, Williams uses galore(postnominal) symbols which represent many different things. Many of the symbols used in the play try to symbolize some form of escape or difference between reality and illusion. The initial symbol, presented in the first scene, is the burn off escape. This represents the bridge between the illusory world of the Wingfields and the world of reality. This bridge seems to be a one way excursion. But the focalization varies for each character. For Tom, the fire escape is the way out of the world of Amanda and Laura and an entrance into a world of new dimensions. For Laura, the fire escape is a way into her testify world. A way to escape from reality. Amanda perceives the fire escape as a way for gentlemen callers to enter their lives. She is also trying to escape her own vacant life. Our author, Tennessee Williams utilizes the fire escape as a literal exit from his own reality as well. His way of escaping is through the play. In Toms opening speech, he says, I oblige you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion. This quote refers to Williams own life told through the play. Everyone in the play seeks haven from their lives, attempting to escape into an imaginary fallacy world. In The Glass Menagerie, Williams fire escape portrays each of the characters need to use the fire escape as a literal exit from their own reality. The Glass Menagerie is set in the apartment of the Wingfield family. By description, it is a cramped place located in the city of St. Louis. It is one of many apartments in the neighborhood. Of the Wingfield family members, none homogeneous living in the apartment. The only reason that traps them in their submissive dwelling is poverty. The concept of escaping their own lives and retreating into an illusion world has entered each of the characters minds. Escaping from this lifestyle, this apartment, and these relationships is a significant division throughout the play. These escapes are linked with the symbolic fire escape as well as the absent Mr. Wingfield. Mr. Wingfield left his family for a life on the road. He worked for the telephone company and fell in love with long distances. This action left Tom with all of the responsibilities in the family including taking care of his half-mad, overbearing mother, Amanda and a disabled sister, Laura.