... who lives in her own world of little glass ornaments and old music. In Tom's reference to the glass in this scene, the glass is used to reinforce the reality of how very different and fragile Laura is. Amanda refuses to accept Tom's realistic analysis of Laura and goes on about her grand plans for the gentlemen caller's visit. Amanda asks Laura "so, what are we going to do the rest of our lives? Amuse ourselves with the glass menagerie, darling (1454 ... )! Her comment is directed towards Laura ... ...

• Word Count: 1214
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

The Glass Menagerie is mainly about the spiritual paralysis of human beings as the result of the depressive atmosphere of the society, breakdown of family institution and lack of understanding among even the most intimate persons; that is, the members of a family. In the 1939 letter to his editor, Audrey Wood, Williams states, "I have only one major theme for my work which is the destructive impact of society on the sensitive non-conformist individual" (qtd. in Haley "Rhetoric"). Therefore, all the characters of the play are suffering from some kind of spiritual imbalance and so are drawn int...

• Word Count: 3081
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Outcasts and Illusion Tennessee Williams is one of the most famous writers and playwrights in American history. He was born on March 26, 1911, in Columbus, Mississippi. His father was a traveling salesman that never had a permanent home for them. His mother was a simple woman that took his father's cruel manners and drinking problems. He had two siblings, a brother and a sister. His plays show the reality of life and what can become of a person through emotional destruction. He uses unique characters that re set as outcast that give his stories special qualities. He also uses themes that make ...

• Word Count: 1131
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School