Symbolism in "the Glass Menagerie"

Symbolism is a major aspect in Tennessee William's famous play, "The Glass Menagerie." On the surface, the short slice of life story seems to be simple. However, if the reader digs deeper they will find that there are several symbols that give the play a deeper meaning. Each character defines each symbol in a different way. Aside from character symbols, there is overall symbolism in this play. It is set in a memory, so it creates a soft, dream-like setting. This lends to the whole idea behind the play that the characters are unable to function in reality. "None of the characters are capable of living in the present. All of the characters retreat into their separate worlds to escape the brutalities of life." (Ross).

There are some very noticeable symbols that have been analyzed many times since study has begun on "The Glass Menagerie." The first is the actual glass menagerie that represents the fragility of the Wingfield's dreamlike existence. The second is the fire escape, which reflects each character's tendency to escape from reality in their own ways. The third is the yellow dress, which represents youth and the past. The gentleman caller,

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Jim O'Connor, represents change and also hopes for the future, as well as a reflection of Amanda's past. Tom also has his own symbols of escape. He uses his poetry and the movies to run from his problems at home.

Literary symbols can be both universal and conventional symbols that derive additional meanings through their use in a particular work." (Kirszner and Mandell pg. 245)

The actual animal collection, or glass menagerie, symbolizes each character and the story. Like the glass animals, the character's realities are very fragile and in danger of being shattered. It is also as though the characters are stuck in glass, unable to move or change, also like the glass animals. They are inanimate, as the characters have learned to be to hide and escape from the pain that life has given them. Laura loves the glass animals because her family is like them. It will not take much, like Tom leaving, to shatter their whole world.

Laura is symbolized by her fragile collection of glass animals, the glass menagerie. Her favorite animal is the unique unicorn. The unicorn is different because it has a horn. When Laura was in high school, she wore a brace. The unicorn and Laura are alike in this way. When Jim dances with Laura, he knocks over the unicorn and the horn breaks off. Now it is like all of the other horses. "The unicorn losing its horn is a symbol. The unicorn in its original state symbolizes something different. It is delicate, beautiful, and precious in it's own unique way. This could symbolize Laura has natural beauty in an "unearthly way" that is hidden by her shyness and limp.

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When Laura starts to talk to Jim, she gets more confidence in herself and realizes that she is not that different from everyone else in the world. The horn symbolizes a difference, an obstacle to be overcome and admired." (Ross) Like Laura has to overcome her shyness and limp to become like everyone else, the unicorn loses its difference.

The fire escape is a major symbol in this play. It represents a different symbol for each character. For Amanda, the fire escape is a way for her to be protected from the outside world, or reality. She cannot live in the present, and the lack of a front door makes it easy for her to avoid real life. She convinces herself that she isn't capable of leaving the safe haven she has created by locking herself inside the strange apartment. She has become trapped by her memories.

Laura uses the fire escape as a symbol in a similar way. She, too, is protected from the outside world by the fire escape, and she is also limited by it because of her handicap. It will require an extra effort for Laura to overcome her limp and get out into the world using the fire escape, symbolizing how her life is more difficult because of her handicap and her delusional mother.

Tom uses the fire escape as an escape to the outside world. He cannot live in the depressed delusions of his mother and sister's reality, so he goes out the fire escape to work, and to the movies. He even succeeds in bringing in a possible replacement for him, someone else to take care of his helpless family members, when he brings Jim O'Connor into the apartment.

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The yellow dress that Amanda insists on wearing when Jim comes over symbolizes her desperate attempt to live in the past when she was young. The yellow and blue silk frock is a symbol of her youth and of the times in her life when she was happy.

She wore it when she won the cakewalk twice at Sunset Hill, and at the Governor's Ball in Jackson. This reminds her of happier times when she didn't have to worry about being a single mother with few skills to raise a family on her own.

Tom is known as Shakespeare at work. Jim calls him this when he comes over for dinner. Tom uses his poetry as an escape form his menial job. He wants more from life, to be an executive. His mother's constant nagging forces him to escape to the movies on a regular basis. While he is watching the movies, he can forget that he has become the man of the house by default. He must put all of his dreams and ambitions on hold so he can work at a low paying job to help support his mother and sister. This dual existence becomes a trap for Tom, unable to leave (until the end) physically. When he finally does escape the apartment, he cannot escape the memories of his sister who he thinks needs him.

Jim O'Connor is the famed and hoped for gentleman caller that Amanda has been airily talking about this entire play. He represents the hopes and dreams of Amanda, that someone will be able to rescue her daughter from her crippling shyness, and be able to give her a better life then she is living right now. To Laura, Jim represents a chance for love that she had previously written off as a dream. Jim gets her to open up and feel like a normal person. But, he eventually

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