Introduction

• "The Glass Menagerie"


  A play by Tennesse Williams
• The play


  • Explores the story of the Wingfield family
  • Tom is the financial provider to his mother and sister
  • Tom is pressured by his mother, Amanda, to stay and support her and Laura
  • Tom's father left many years ago and abandoned his mother with Tom and his sister, leaving them with little money to survive on
  • Tom feels trapped by his family as he must live with them and support them begrudgingly as he feels responsible for Laura and her wellbeing
  • Tom's desire to escape is all consuming due to Amanda's lack of sympathy and inability to treat Tom with respect and common decency
  • Tom feels suffocated and has a desperate desire to escape
• Tom's actions


  Doesn't act on his urge to escape until the final scene in the play where he finally flees
• Techniques used by Tennessee Williams


  • Symbolism
  • Stage directions
  • Dialogue
• Tennessee Williams uses these techniques to explore the story of the Wingfield family