Essay - Tennessee Williams' 'The Glass Menagerie,' Is A Portrayal of the...

Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie," is a portrayal of the fragile psyches of its characters—an arrangement of tiny, delicate glass figurines whose essence of life can be shattered very easily. This ***** takes place in a cramped apartment in St. Louis, inhabited by Amanda Wingfield, her son Tom, and daughter Laura, ***** husband having deserted the family several years ago. Anot***** character, perhaps ***** most stable, is Jim O'Connor, a former schoolmate ***** ***** and Laura.

The play is really a representation of Tom's memory as he adm***** at the beginning of ***** play; everything flows from his memories. Amanda vacillates between moments ***** manic activity and languid recollections of her past southern heritage. She boasts of all the gentlemen c*****ers she has had, and the cotillions ***** graced. She continually questions her daughter about any dates she might have; and, "how m***** callers ***** will be seeing." ***** is a shy girl; ***** shyness borders on ***** pathological. ***** also has a leg deformity that causes her to use a leg-cast. Laura's shyness gets in the way of ***** activities; she cannot take any courses or hold on to a job. Her brother Tom works at a w*****rehouse; Tom is a dreamer who wants ***** jo***** the Merchant Marines and travel the world; he also goes to movies every night. He ***** spends working hours writing poetry even at the risk of losing ***** job. ***** every act is one of escape from the depression ***** home.

Amanda ***** concerned ***** her children do not have any direction in life; her push*****ess causes friction with Tom, and Tom occasionally lashes back. Laura response is reticence; ***** only interest is a collection ***** delicate glass animal figurines. Tom, once enraged at h***** mot*****er, ***** some of these to break by flinging his coat across the room. Finally, on his mother's insistence, Tom invites his colleague Jim O'C*****nor ***** ***** house in the hope ***** getting him to date Laura. Am*****a much ado at this news; the house is prepared for *****'s arrival. When he finally arrives, Jim recognizes Laura as ***** high school. Jim, talented in science, sports, s*****ging and debating, won several awards in high school. Laura ***** a crush on Jim, but w*****s too shy to approach *****, t***** very reas***** why Jim hesitated ***** approach Laura—***** believed that her ***** was because of her leg (which could have been part ***** the problem). After high school, Jim did not quite realize h***** dreams. And though he worked at a job below his abilities, he had been taking coursework in electronic eng*****eering ***** public speaking. Recognizing that television ***** a w*****ve of the future, he wanted to make it big in media communication.

***** the course of his visit and dinner, Jim succeeds in penetrat*****g Laura's shyness barrier. He gradually draws her out even getting her to dance ***** him. Laura ***** Jim rekindle a glimmer of romance and they kiss. Eventually, later he confesses that he is