Escape from Reality in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee...

Escape from Reality in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams The Characters Escape From Reality in The Glass Menagerie The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams centers around a dream of escape. Although everyone wants to escape from a different reality, they all feel that need to get away. The father is the most successful in his escape because he never has to deal with anything at home. He actually leaves and doesnt look back. As for the other four: Laura, Amanda, Tom, and Jim, they seem to be stuck throughout the play. Jim seems to be the only one with a real chance at breaking away from his reality. When Tom breaks free, his memory brings him back to that place. Each person escapes their reality in some way and is somewhat†¦show more content†¦Every time Tom sees #8230;a piece of transparent glass#8230; (1310), or hears #8230;a familiar bit of music (1310) he is reminded of Laura. So in the end, Tom isnt successful at escaping his realities. It is in the actual escape that he fails the most because he cant forget Laura. Amanda and Laura are the most pitiful characters in the play. Their methods of escape consist of what goes on inside their heads. Laura escapes through her menagerie. [Lauras] glass collection takes up a good deal of [her] time (1303). Laura is so engrossed with taking care of her glass collection that she forgets to live her life. Laura also hides behind her disability. She even admits that the brace on her leg #8230;sort of --stood between [her]-[and making friends] (1301). Laura never tries to do anything but live in a reality where she is afraid of everything. Amanda however isnt afraid of anything except not being taken care of. Amanda also lives in a make-believe reality. In Amandas mind she is still a girl receiving gentlemen callers (1270). Even when Laura is to receive a caller, Amanda gets more dressed up than Laura. Amanda even refuses to acknowledge that Laura is #8230;crippled (1275). She illustrates this point by saying #8230;youre not crippled, you just have a little defect-har dly noticeable, even! (1275). In Amandas world men are still nice and polite, unlike her son Tom. There are noShow MoreRelatedIllusion Vs. Reality In The Glass Menagerie By Tennessee Williams1022 Words   |  5 PagesIllusion versus reality is a theme that illustrates the conflict people have when they have difficulties in their lives. They want to deny or ignore the difficulty, so they force themselves to think in a different way and believe something that is not true, thus, making an imaginary world for themselves. They have a desire to live in a different world and fool themselves to thinking that they are, but in reality, they are not. 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