Futile Dreams of Escape in The Glass Menagerie and I suppose I found it easier to identify with characters who were bordering on hysteria, who were afraid of life, who were desperately trying to reach another person” (Rasky 134). This statement by Tennessee Williams supports the idea that he incorporates something crippled into all of his main characters. In his play, The Glass Menagerie, Williams portrays a crippling relationship between mother and son. It clearly illustrates that none of the characters are capable of living in the present. The characters believe that happiness will be found in their repeated searches for escape from the real world. As such, they retreat into their separate worlds to escape the brutalities of life. Set in Depression-era St. Louis, domineering former Southern charmer Amanda Wingfield is the de facto breadwinner. A former Southern belle, Amanda is a single mother who acts like she's still the beauty queen of high school. Williams' still-resonant study reveals her desperate struggle with the forces of destiny against her dysfunctional relationship that looms large among her adult children. (Gist)Laura, Amanda, Tom and Jim resort to various escape mechanisms to avoid reality. Laura, fearful of being denigrated as inferior due to her innate inability to walk, is shy and detaches herself from the callous modern world. Amanda tries in every way to integrate her into society, but without success. He sends her to business school and invites a gentleman to dinner. He is unable to cope with the mechanization of the contemporary world represented by the typing speed test and is unable to make new acquaintances or friends due to his immense inhibition with people. His life is monotonous and quiet, but it is full of dreams and flooded with memories. Whenever the outside world threatens Laura, she seeks solace and retreats into her animal world of glass and old phonograph records. Amanda, her mother, mentions the alternative of marriage in case of a fiasco in her business career and Laura "gives out a surprised and doubtful laugh. She quickly picks up a piece of glass." (Williams, ). The glass menagerie becomes his tactile consolation. The small glass ornaments represent Laura's self and characterize her fragility and delicate beauty.

Topic > Futile Dreams of Escape in The Glass Menagerie and I suppose I found it easier to identify with characters who were bordering on hysteria, who were afraid of life, who were desperately trying to reach another person” (Rasky 134). This statement by Tennessee Williams supports the idea that he incorporates something crippled into all of his main characters. In his play, The Glass Menagerie, Williams portrays a crippling relationship between mother and son. It clearly illustrates that none of the characters are capable of living in the present. The characters believe that happiness will be found in their repeated searches for escape from the real world. As such, they retreat into their separate worlds to escape the brutalities of life. Set in Depression-era St. Louis, domineering former Southern charmer Amanda Wingfield is the de facto breadwinner. A former Southern belle, Amanda is a single mother who acts like she's still the beauty queen of high school. Williams' still-resonant study reveals her desperate struggle with the forces of destiny against her dysfunctional relationship that looms large among her adult children. (Gist)Laura, Amanda, Tom and Jim resort to various escape mechanisms to avoid reality. Laura, fearful of being denigrated as inferior due to her innate inability to walk, is shy and detaches herself from the callous modern world. Amanda tries in every way to integrate her into society, but without success. He sends her to business school and invites a gentleman to dinner. He is unable to cope with the mechanization of the contemporary world represented by the typing speed test and is unable to make new acquaintances or friends due to his immense inhibition with people. His life is monotonous and quiet, but it is full of dreams and flooded with memories. Whenever the outside world threatens Laura, she seeks solace and retreats into her animal world of glass and old phonograph records. Amanda, her mother, mentions the alternative of marriage in case of a fiasco in her business career and Laura "gives out a surprised and doubtful laugh. She quickly picks up a piece of glass." (Williams, ). The glass menagerie becomes his tactile consolation. The small glass ornaments represent Laura's self and characterize her fragility and delicate beauty.