Topic > Dreams and Desires in "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams

The Glass Menagerie is a memoir by Tennessee Williams. This play was first performed in 1944. The play is set in the Wingfield family's apartment in St. Louis in 1937. The play is based on the memories of Tom Wingfield, the narrator. Tom is a character in the play. Tom wants to be a poet, but works in a shoe warehouse to support his family. In this play, all the dreams and desires of the characters' lives are crushed one by one and show a reflection of how it seems to be sinking. This is demonstrated in Amanda's relationship with reality, Tom's hard work and attempt to maintain his dreams, and Laura's dropping out of school. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Amanda's relationship with reality is not very solid in this play. This puts her in a sinking state. There is a line where Amanda says "My devotion has made me a witch and therefore I make myself hateful to my children!" and “I worry so much, I don't sleep, it makes me nervous!” This is very heartbreaking and shows that Amanda is not happy in her true reality and in her children's lives. She talks deeply about her past life which makes her blind to her true reality. She dedicated her life to focusing on her children and managing their lives and dreams of success. This is a peacemaker for his life and his past. It helps her not live in her reality. Amanda is so focused on success than letting her children experience life. It gives them dissatisfaction with life and the dreams they had. Tom is a hard worker and does his best in life. There's a scene in the play where he knocks down his sister, Laura, in the glass menagerie and still shows her no love. There is also a scene where Tom proclaims Laura as strange and cannot survive in the outside world. It's clear that Tom doesn't want to live in that reality and prefers to follow his dreams. Tom is as stable as he appears in the daily society of a dreamer. Tom is a daydreamer who longs for an adventurous life. Toms faces loneliness and despondency due to his duties in life of caring for his family. Tom is also an aspiring poet who works in a shoe warehouse to support the financial responsibility of both his mother and sister. The work is boring, sad and very different from the kind of career he would like to have. This puts him in a very dark place and he's really trying to take care of him, but he doesn't want to be with his family. Tom's attitude towards Amanda and Laura is very disconcerting. Tom tries to support them but is also very cruel towards them, especially towards Laura. There is not a moment in the play where Tom behaves lovingly towards Laura. Laura drops out of business college in the play. Laura becomes very nervous because it is extremely difficult to go to business school without getting brutally ill. Laura pretends to her mother that she is still in business school. Laura is ashamed and tries to reveal the truth to her mother who has her own dreams for Laura. Laura is ashamed of her mother Amanda's dissatisfaction. Her mother finds out by coincidence when she visits the college to see how Laura is doing. The teacher defines her as "a terribly shy little girl". “His hands were shaking so much he couldn't press the right buttons! The first time we did a speed test she had a total meltdown - she had a stomach ache and almost had to be carried to the bathroom! She hasn't been seen since then.'' This event clarifies Laura's reluctance, shyness and difficulties in facing reality. Laura.