Also when Laura told Amanda about a boy she liked in high school the image on the screen showed “Jim as high school hero bearing a silver cup.” Once again showing someone’s dazzling past memory. The audience saw Jim on the screen image before seeing him acting on the stage. So he was introduced through Laura’s memory that was visualized on a screen image. This would have instantly encouraged the audience to remember what Tom has said about Jim in the beginning of the play – “he is the most realistic character in the play…” So the audience met the “most realistic character in the play” through someone’s memory who was “set apart from” the “world of reality” which was ironic.
However, it served to highlight the fact that it was a “memory play” by showing another image, which was one of the character’s memory.
Audiences were drawn to pay attention to Laura by using the images and phrases on the screen. Laura was the least vocal and energetic character so it was very easy for the audience to forget her presence on the stage. However, it was fatal that her presence was noticed as the play evolved around her. But her character in the play was a shy, fragile, introverted and delicate girl so she did not move around nor speak much. In a contrast, all the other characters were loud, egocentric, and energetic and very noticeable. So there had to be other way of making her presence known to the audience and Williams used various devices to achieve that. One of these devices was using images and phrases on the screen. In fact, most of the images and phrases were related to Laura. The image of “blue roses” and “the glass menagerie” were repeatedly shown to the audience, as they were the symbols, which represented her.
Even her name, “Laura” appeared on the screen when she was not on the stage. Amanda asked Tom to bring a gentleman caller for Laura while Laura was out. This was an excellent evidence showing that the play was evolving around Laura. Even in lack of her presence on the stage, other characters were discussing about her and she was the centre of their attention and should have been to the audiences as well.
It was also noticeable when Laura was with Jim a lot of phrases on the screen were shown. The reason behind it could be that Jim was a vibrant, talkative and an exciting character whom “ always expected something that we live for” which easily gained audiences attention, at the same time, making the audience forget about Laura’s presence which should not happen. So Williams used numerous phrases on the screen to draw some attention to Laura. For example, the phrase “ I don’t suppose you remember me at all!” was on the screen while Jim restlessly talked and the image of “blue roses” was on the screen just before the kiss scene, and then was changed to the phrase “souvenir” after the kissing. The souvenir was foretelling what was going to happen – Jim broke Laura’s heart by saying he was engaged and he physically broke the horn of the glass unicorn before which Laura gave to him as a souvenir when he left.
It could only be assumed why she gave the unicorn to Jim. May be it was to remind him of what he has done to her or to show her affection. But it was clear that the images and phrases on the screen were used to draw audiences’ attention to Laura whom the audience could easily forget about.
The images and the phrases had an “emotional appeal.” Williams himself said that it would and it definitely did. Various phrases used on the screen evoked some kind of emotion. Some examples were “the crust of humility” “terror!” “love” and “and so good-bye”
The humiliation living a life of an old maid, who was not able to marry a decent man, how Laura felt when she had to open the door for a boy she ever liked, and Tom’s emotional last words were shown on the screen, which the audience could then see and feel. The very last words of the play were said by Tom which were “ and so good –bye”
This probably was the most emotional line in the play as it showed Tom’s mingled emotions of guilt, love, annoyance and regret towards Laura. By having these phrases on the screen Williams have made it easier for the audience to sympathize or agree with the characters and made it harder to forget these lines.
The effects of the images and the phrases on the screen were that these highlighted the fact that it was a “memory play” as well as drawing attention to Laura who was the most crucial character whom the audience could easily forget about as she was the least vocal and energetic character. Also it definitely had an “emotional appeal” to the audience and made it easier to sympathize with characters.
