Don't blow the candles out
Fiction and drama share likenesses. Both types of work have similar story elements such as characters, plot, and so on. Although while in fiction the information comes gradually and by the interpretation of what reader read, in drama - a form of writing used for the theater -, most of the traits of the story come at once and it is "done" by actors. This characteristic results in a dramatic point of view which means that the audience only knows what actors say and do. Therefore, this outcome shows itself as a powerful advantage of drama which makes the human experience that occurs within the narrative massively realistic as well as dramatic. "The Glass Menagerie" is a play written by Tennessee Williams, that premiered in 1945. The dramatic story of a family takes place in the United States in a time between the Great Depression and the World War Two. The drama shows that illusions and impossible dreams are often an escape from reality, but they cannot be sustained. The story is told by Tom, the protagonist, who forewarns the audience that the play is unreal once he is telling the events by memory: "memory takes a lot of poetic license"(3). This essay will show the strengths and weaknesses of Amanda, Tom's mother, and Tom himself. Moreover, the symbols conveyed by the story through Tom's sister - her glass collection which names the play and her painful shyness. As well, the meaning of the gentleman caller, Jim O'Connor.
Amanda is a single mother, abandoned by her husband. She has raised her son and daughter, Tom and Laura, under harsh financial conditions. The Wingfield family lives in a cramped apartment together where the events take place. This middle age lady is indeed a loving and caring mother to her grown children. On one hand, she encourages her daughter. Laura calls herself "crippled" because she has a slightly shorter leg. Nonetheless, Amanda fires her up saying, "you just have a little defect - hardly noticeable, even!"(17). Her caring is reinforced when she says to Tom, "[I wish] success and happiness for my precious children"(40). On the other hand, Amanda is very intrusive. She confiscates one of Tom's book. Then, when he asks her about it, she replies, "I took that horrible novel"(21). Besides, care and love for her children, we learn that Amanda is pragmatic. When the plan to educate Laura goes wrong, she shows herself very worried at all about Laura's well-being and independence. In one aside of the play, Tom explains that "getting a gentleman caller...began to play a more and more important part" in Amanda's ambition (19). In contrast though, Amanda overcares her children and so her plans bordering on obsession. She herself says, "My devotion has made me a witch and so I make myself hateful to my children"(30). In order to be happier, Amanda should be more approachable in her convictions. Being a good listener of her daughter’s desire, for instance, would be one good way to be less intrusive and more perceptive.
Tom proves to be a very creative person. Through his mom's stories from the past and the books that he enjoys, he has developed a powerful faculty of imagination. At a point, he quarrels with his mother and sarcastically he makes up a plot with gun, gang, double-life and all the funny details that an adventurous story requires (24). However, as an imaginative person, Tom struggles with his monotonous work. He suffers from anxiety. He is frustrated with his life and so movies and drinks are his way to escape from reality. Answering his mother, Tom says, "I go to the movies [entirely too much] because - I like adventure…[this is] something I don't have much of at work"(33). Also, Tom is restless. As a young man, he is reluctant about his current life. He wants to change; he wants to move on. He says to Jim - the gentleman caller, "Hollywood characters are supposed to have all the adventures for everybody in America"(61). In another perspective though, Tom is selfish. He plans to leave his family and join the Merchant Marine(35). Irresponsibly, he wants to leave his family behind without financial support and then become himself a soldier. Reasonably, his mom begs him, "Then do it! But not till there's somebody to take your place"(35). She wants to marry Tom's sister before he leaves. Clearly, Tom is a young man looking his own path of life. He would be happier if he accepted that he has the responsibility upon his family. He is the unique way to maintain the house and pay the bills. Living under a historical financial crisis that happened in the United States, Tom should recognize his role and help his mother and sister.
The play carries some symbols which most of them are associated with Tom's sister. Laura has a wonderful sense of beauty. Although, she uses this faculty as a gateway to living apart from the world. She is emotionally and physically fragile. In fact, her glass collection is her escape from reality. Involved with these tiny animals made out of glass, she lives in a world of fantasy. Moreover, all the time that she has to face the outside world, she confronts obstacles. A symbol of this struggle with reality is her stumbles. For instance, when Amanda send her to buy butter in scene four she slides on the stairs and almost falls (29). Jim O'Connor is the gentleman caller and Tom's best friend. Tom describes him as "the most realistic character in the play"(5). He appears in the final scene and, while chatting with Laura, the gentleman recognizes Laura's feelings of inferiority. Jim encourages her to think better of herself. According to Tom's introduction of him in scene one, O'Connor is "an emissary from a world of reality" (5).
This essay put forward some strengths, weaknesses, and flaws of Amanda and Tom. We learned that Amanda is a pragmatic caring mother, although sometimes it turns into overcare and intrusion into her children's life. Furthermore, Tom is a creative and restless young man transitioning from adolescent to adult phase. This challenge makes him suffer from anxiety and thus frustration of his tiresome life. He proves to be somewhat selfish following his "father's footsteps"(97) at the end. Beyond these characteristics, this study showed some tokens given by the author such as Laura's glass collection, her constantly stumbles and the meaning of Jim, the gentleman caller. Reading "The Glass Menagerie" makes me, personally, thinking about living in a world apart and be restless. The story seems to be absent to end. The author somewhat invites the public to finish the play in their own life: accepting the world as it is and fighting for dreams - keeping the restless flame on. Writing this essay forced me to organize my perception and insights created by the drama. The play "The Glass Menagerie" helps us address human nature and conditions which affect all people. Therefore, the thoughtful Tennessee Williams' play is powerfully true to people's life. The impression caused by this masterpiece make the audience holding the taste of the drama for several days in their heads.
Comentários
Postar um comentário