Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie

My callers were gentlemen – all! Among my callers were some of the most prominent young planters of the Mississippi Delta

 Amanda, despite her obvious faults tries her very best to fulfill her aspirations, working the humiliating job of selling magazine subscriptions over the telephone in an attempt to put her daughter through business college, and perpetually nagging Tom to better himself. The extent of the harm caused by Amanda’s extensive illusions is ambiguous. Whilst it can be argued that her idealistic world of make believe is damaging to her self-esteem as it is only setting her up for rejection. Conversely Amanda’s delusions are possibly beneficial, insofar as her morals and ideals are incompatible with the society she is surrounded by, thus her fantasy serves as protection. However it is clear that Amanda’s escapism has detrimental effects of both her children, she is perpetually building up Laura’s hopes for a gentlemen caller and her attempts to thrust her into a life of happiness molded on her own youth, is incompatible with Laura’s reclusive nature and thus harmful. Moreover Amanda’s habit of scolding Tom, contributes to his feeling of suffocation and unhappiness in the household. Amanda’s extensive yearning for days gone by and resultant attempts to live through her children are indicative of the illusory world created by the characters in The Glass Menagerie.

Laura typifies the extensive illusion and escapism engaged in by members of the Wingfield family. Her escapism is the most extensive and dramatically symbolic of all the family members. Laura’s physical defect, albeit minor, has a serious impact on her life. It leaves her reclusive, socially inept and perpetually nervous. In order to convey how different Laura is, Williams uses symbolism to good effect. Laura’s favourite animal, the unicorn, proves a symbol of unique she is, its difference to the other animals is a reflexion of her own social ineptitude. Laura uses escapism primarily to avoid the world which she does not fit into; attempts by her mother to put her through business college result in abysmal failure. Laura is a recluse, who lives in,

 A world of her own -- a world of glass ornaments 

a world which mimics her troubles with her inner-self. Worlds are delicate, Laura and her menagerie appear to be transparent in normal light, however under the right circumstance they can both shine like rainbows. This is exemplified by Laura’s character becoming increasingly attractive when Jim, begins to take an interest in her towards the end of the play, and is signified by Laura’s explanation of her glass collection,

Here's an example of one, if you'd like to see it!… Oh, be careful—if you breathe, it breaks! … There now—you're holding him gently! Hold him over the light, he loves the light

However her moment of normality is fleeting, and Jim’s withdrawal is accompanied by a retreat into her world of fantasy. Laura’s world of make believe is the most disturbing example of escapism in The Glass Menagerie. Laura’s withdrawal is a source of great distress to the other members of her family; Amanda is distraught at her inability to attract and communicate with gentleman callers and her refusal to attend Business College; Laura causes her brother, Tom, much grief as he attempts to escape the stifling environment his thoughts are of her future. As a character she is almost completely reliant upon it, and it has left her without the ability to function socially, only further perpetuating her solitude.

Tom plays a double role in The Glass Menagerie. He is not only an on-stage character, he is the play’s narrator and resultantly the events are shaped by his memory and interpretation. He also seeks escapist alternatives to his lamentable situation. From the outset of the play it is clear that Tom is miserable with his situation as he is subjected to constant nagging and patronizing criticism from his mother, which still occurs despite the fact that Tom pays for her rent and provisions. His frustration is evidenced by this outburst at his mother,

What do you think I’m at? Aren’t I supposed to have any patience to reach the end of, Mother?

Tom’s response to the problems he faces is to escape. Tom’s desire to break away from his family is suppressed at the play’s beginning and instead is replaced by frequent trips to the movies, writing poetry and turning to alcohol. Tom’s ultimate escape is foreshadowed frequently throughout the play. This is alluded to by his frequent trips to the fire-exit, a symbol of escape, which serves as a makeshift porch, and his wistful inspection of the world below. Tom’s true feelings towards his family are well expressed upon his return from a trip to the movies,

But the wonderfullest trick of all was the coffin trick. We nailed him into a coffin and he got out of the coffin without removing one nail.… There is a trick that would come in handy for me

 The coffin is a symbol for Tom’s life. His dreams of poetic greatness and adventures on the high seas are stifled by his family. He has perceptibly been contemplating an escape from his coffin since the play’s inception, and this quote proves to be a dramatic foreshadowing of his eventual departure. Tom’s frequent trips to the movies and descent into alcohol induced stupor have negative effects on his family; they are both the source of much argument and friction between Tom and Amanda, and place pressure on Tom’s sister Laura.  Tom’s desire to escape is guilt-ridden as his natural loyalty and his family’s reliance upon him. However his ultimate disappearance proves nowhere nearly as seamless as the magician’s. Tom’s escapism is without equivocation the most impacting in the play.

Illusion and escapism are themes central to Tennessee Williams’ play, The Glass Menagerie. All members of the Wingfield family have a marked difficulty accepting the harsh realities of the world outside their apartment, and each family member withdraws into a world of illusion where they live under the semblance of hope and evade the truth. The escapism partaken in by Tom, Laura and Amanda, can seen to manifest as, living in the past, the creation of another world and unrealistic aspiration.