The Glass Menagerie
By: Tennessee Williams
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Life is full of countless lessons. Often such cannot be
taught, but must be learned by experience. As in life, the recounting of Tom’s
memory illustrates the life lessons of the characters with in the play, The Glass Menagerie. From the lesson of
dreams and hope to that of love and dedication, the aphorisms of the play
illustrate to the viewer or reader by experience, countless life lessons.
Aphorisms serve as a prevalent literary technique scattered
within the play to provide meaning and purpose to the work. Direct aphorisms of
determination like “Try and you will SUCCEED (Page 1251)” present the
importance of staying hopeful and wishful of adventure and love. Others less
literal like “In these trying times we live in, all that we have to cling to is
each other…(Page 1251)” describe the value of love in relationships. As the
play draws to a close, Laura’s potential suitor becomes only a friend as it is revealed
that Jim O’Connor is actually engaged. At this revelation, the family which is
built upon hopes and connectedness to each other falls apart just as the glass
unicorn shattered. Amanda blames Tom for embarrassing the family causing him to
run away just as his father did in the pursuit of his own freedom and dreams.
Yet, he remains haunted by Laura’s fragility and beauty as he becomes daunted
by the storm of reality. As the memory
becomes blown out like a candle, the life lessons presented remain aglow by the
emphasis of aphorisms.
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