Tennessee Williams

1
Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie

• Recurring Themes Symbols

2
Themes

• Illusion vs. Reality
• Memory
• Freedom
• Quest
• Instinct vs. Civilized Behavior, struggle between
  generations
• Disintegration of American family

• The American Dream
• Survival of man in the machine age
• Fragility vs. Strength
• Mans need to escape his surroundings.

3
Illusion vs. Reality

• In Scene I, Tom says, I give you truth in the
  pleasant disguise of illusion.
• What is the truth at the heart of this story?
• What is the illusion which disguises it?

4
Illusion vs. Reality Tom

• What are some of Toms illusions?
• Does he have illusions about himself? Others?
  Life?

• Is Tom able to see reality about some things?
  Which things?
• Is he able to see himself realistically? Does he
  see others realistically?

5
Illusion vs. Reality Amanda

• Does Amanda have illusions? Is so, what are they?
• Illusions about herself? Her children? Her life?

• Is Amanda able to see reality about some things?
  Which things?
• Does she see herself realistically? Does she see
  others realistically?

6
Illusion vs. Reality Laura

• Does Laura have illusions? If so, what are they?
• Illusions about herself? Others? Life?

• Does Laura see things realistically?
• Does she see herself realistically? Does she see
  others or life realistically?

7
Illusion vs. Reality

• References to school of the blind America
  sits in a dark room
• How do Toms assertions also serve as a
  commentary on American life in the lead up to
  World War II?

8
Memory

• What is meant by the idea of a memory play?
• Does the fact that the play is based on memory
  make it seem less true or less factual?
• Do we have to deal with memories in order to move
  forward?

9
Memory Tom

• Which of Toms memories are revealed in the play?
• If the play is based on Toms memory, in choosing
  what to leave in or leave out does he cast
  himself as the good guy?

• How do Toms memories affect his behavior?
• Are there significant details he seems to have
  left out/forgotten? Why?

10
Memory Amanda

• What does Amanda remember?
• When (in what context) does she remember her
  past?
• Why does she remember her past?

• How do Amandas memories affect her
• Behavior?
• Actions?
• Decisions?

11
Memory Laura

• What does Laura remember?
• When (in what context) does she remember her
  past?
• Why does she remember her past?

• How do Lauras memories affect her
• Behavior?
• Actions?
• Decisions?
• Also consider Jims memories and how they affect
  him?

12
MEMORY

• Which characters seem most affected by memories?
  Least affected?
• Are the affects of the memories positive?
  Negative?

13
FREEDOM

• What is the definition of freedom?
• Financial freedom
• Emotional freedom
• The ability to make decisions for oneself? To
  have a variety of choices?

14
Freedom

• Which characters are most free? (financially and
  emotionally)
• Least free?
• What would freedom mean to each character?

• Do all the characters seek freedom? Why or why
  not?
• What is the price of freedom? Is it selfish?

15
Instinct vs. Superior Things

• What is meant by instinct?
• What is meant by superior things?
• Which characters believe in instinct? Which
  characters believe in superior things?
• How do these beliefs create conflict between
  these characters?
• What is the result?

16
Instinct

• What is instinct? (according to Websters)
• an inborn pattern of activity or tendency to
  action common to a given biological species
• a natural inclination or attitude
• natural intuitive power

17
Instinct Tom

• Late for dinner
• Chews food quickly
• Uses vulgarity, profanity
• Reads DH Lawrence
• Argues with mother, others

• Smokes
• Goes to movies
• Drinks
• Gulps coffee
• Is selfish??
• Wants to face facts

18
Instinct vs. Superior Things

• What are superior things?
• Manners
• Etiquette and social graces
• Talking of refined (not coarse, not vulgar)
  things
• Having civilized ambitions, wants, hopes, dreams

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Superior Things Amanda

• Grace at dinner
• Table manners
• never anything coarse, or common, or vulgar
• fresh and pretty
• Wants both children to take classes

• defect . Slight disadvantage develop charm
• Makes small talk when doing sales
• Lawrence horrible book

20
Superior Things Amanda

• Doesnt want Tom to jeopardize job with
  shameful behavior
• Believes that hard work success
• sacrifices
• nothing offends people worse

• Says girls shouldnt fall for appearance (listen
  to instincts)
• Home improvements
• Dances, picnics, flowers

21
Laura and Jim

• Laura and instinct
• Leaves class when nervous
• Wont answer door when scared
• Quits school when embarrassed

• Jim and superior things
• Position at warehouse
• Self-esteem, taking classes
• Can put on an act

Can characters who are governed by either
instinct or Superior things both refuse to see
reality?
22
Conflict

• Tom and Amanda
• Tom Man is by instinct a lover, a hunter, a
  fighter and none of those .
• Amanda Surely your aims are somewhat higher
  than theirs! Than monkeys pigs

23
Which wins?

• When angry (giving in to instinct), Tom shakes
  the glass menagerie
• When giving in to instinct, Amanda marries the
  wrong man and Lauras unicorn gets broken
• Tom leaves the family, follows instincts for
  survival, selfish pleasure however, he doesnt
  seem happy in end.

24
The American Dream

• Definition Hard work success
• What is success money, a home, a family?
• What traits are needed to achieve this?
• Talent
• Ambition
• Optimism/believe/faith in the system
• Strong work ethic
• Intelligence
• Social skills

25
The American Dream for play

• Which characters possess the traits needed to
  achieve the American Dream?
• Is it likely any of them will achieve the
  American dream? Why or why not?

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SYMBOLS
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Symbols

• Glass and glass menagerie
• Paradise Hall
• Blindness
• Blue, Blue Roses
• Burning, fire, candles
• Alleyway

• Zoo, hot house
• Magic show, coffin