Illusion and Escapism in Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie

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Illusion and Escapism in Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie
Introduction
Synopsis
The play “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams is largely a flashback about the Wingfields’ family shortly after the Great Depression. The story of the play is narrated by Tom Wingfield, the son of Mr. Wingfield and Mrs. Amanda Wingfiled. The play opens with Tom revealing that his father had deserted the family, leaving him to take care of his mother and sister, Laura. However, Tom is disillusioned about his present circumstances, and he tries to forget about his frustrations by getting drunk, gambling and going to the movies. On her part, Laura has withdrawn to her loneliness and collections of toys, which she uses to escape from and forget about the outside world. One of her legs is shorter than the other, and because of this she thinks that no man will want to marry her. As a result, she is suffering from low self-esteem, the reason why she does not want to interact with the outside world; she wants to hide her shortcomings. In contrast, their mother Amanda is hopeful and ambitious for her children, since she strongly believes that things will turn out for the better. She tries to make a positive change in their lives by encouraging Laura to enroll for a business course while asking her son to avoid the movies and alcohol. Regardless, the fact that each character views the world differently and are driven by different motivations- Tom to escape from his family obligations, Laura to hide her inadequacies from the outside world, and Amanda success for her children- suggests that the Wingfield family is not only existing under extreme tensions, but more seriously, drifting apart.
Thesis
The play’s setting, shortly after the Great Depression, a period when most American families were struggling financially, gives a clear hint of the thematic concerns that Williams explores in his play. Specifically, it points to the significance of socio-economic factors in family functioning. In addition, it suggests the role of parents in holding the family together and influencing the future of their children. In this regard, this essay examines the effects of changing socio-economic conditions on the family institution. It employs a realist perspective to show how frustrations and disillusionment about life forces individuals to escape from reality by living an illusionary life. It argues that the play’s characters are unable to come to terms with their socio-economic conditions, as they have chosen to escape into their private worlds of glass animals for Laura, Amanda into her glorious youth and dreams about her children’s prospects, and Tom to movies and alcohol.
Discussion
The absence of a father and husband is the first indication that the Wingfield family is dysfunctional. Although Mr. Winglfield has been away for many years and has never concerned himself with his family’s welfare, his photography still hangs in the living room, and everywhere on stage. While his absence is significant in suggesting family tensions, the presence of his picture, an image or copy of the real thing, suggests that the remaining Winglfield members are reluctant to a...