Characters
This character is often referred to as "the gentleman caller" and represents hope and opportunity for Laura.
Jim O'Connor
What is the main theme of escape in the play?
Bonus point: in what ways does each character attempt to escape?
The theme of escape is prevalent as characters seek to escape their harsh realities—Tom through movies, Laura through her glass menagerie, and Amanda through her memories.
What do the glass animals represent in the play?
The glass animals symbolize Laura's fragility and the beauty of her inner world, contrasting with the harshness of reality
What is the main conflict in the play?
The main conflict revolves around Tom's struggle between his responsibilities to his family and his desire for independence.
She is Tom’s overbearing mother, who constantly reminisces about her past and worries about her children’s futures.
Amanda Wingfield.
How does the theme of memory influence the play?
Memory shapes the structure of the play, as Tom reflects on the past and his family's struggles, blending nostalgia with regret.
What does the fire escape symbolize?
The fire escape symbolizes both a physical and emotional way out for Tom and represents the characters' longing for freedom.
How does the play end?
The play ends with Tom leaving his family behind, haunted by memories of Laura, who is left to navigate her own life.
This character struggles with shyness and insecurity, often finding solace in her collection of glass animals.
Laura Wingfield.
What theme is represented by Tom going to the movies?
escape
What does the moon symbolize in The Glass Menagerie?
The moon is a symbol of hope. The moon also symbolizes the characters desire to escape reality.
Analyze the quote: “I’m just going to the movies.” What does this reveal about Tom's character?
This quote highlights Tom's desire for escape and his coping mechanism to deal with the burdens of his family life, revealing his internal conflict.
He works in a shoe warehouse and dreams of becoming a poet, feeling trapped by his family responsibilities.
Tom Wingfield.
What theme is signified through the breaking of the unicorn in scene 7?
The shattering of the unicorn emphasizes the conflict between the characters’ desires for escape and the unavoidable truths of their lives. It illustrates how fragile their dreams are and the need to accept reality.
What did the dance hall symbolize in The Glass Menagerie?
Temporary escape from reality.
What does Amanda Wingfield often reminisce about?
Bonus point: Why?
Amanda often reminisces about her youth in the South and her many suitors, reflecting her longing for a lost past.