The Glass MenagerieThe Glass Menagerieby Tennessee Williamsby Tennessee Williams

Advanced Composition & NovelAdvanced Composition & Novel

Mrs. Snipes & Mrs. LutesMrs. Snipes & Mrs. Lutes

Tennessee Williams (1911-Tennessee Williams (1911-1983)1983) Thomas Lanier Williams grew up Thomas Lanier Williams grew up

in Columbus, Mississippi. He and in Columbus, Mississippi. He and his older sister Rose were raised his older sister Rose were raised in his maternal grandparents’ in his maternal grandparents’ home (his grandfather was an home (his grandfather was an Episcopalian clergyman) in a Episcopalian clergyman) in a supportive, bookish supportive, bookish atmosphere. atmosphere.

When his father, an extroverted When his father, an extroverted traveling shoe salesman, took a traveling shoe salesman, took a desk job in St. Louis, the family desk job in St. Louis, the family was uprooted from its sheltered, was uprooted from its sheltered, genteel existence and genteel existence and transplanted to a cheerless, transplanted to a cheerless, backstreet apartment.backstreet apartment.

Looking back on the traumatic Looking back on the traumatic move (an expulsion from a move (an expulsion from a Southern Eden that became a Southern Eden that became a motif in his plays), Williams motif in his plays), Williams observed, “We suddenly observed, “We suddenly discovered that there were two discovered that there were two kinds of people, the rich and the kinds of people, the rich and the poor, and we belonged more to poor, and we belonged more to the latter.” the latter.”

Williams’ college Williams’ college education was education was

interrupted during the interrupted during the depression, when he depression, when he worked for three years worked for three years in a shoe factory—a in a shoe factory—a job he detested.job he detested.

He resumed his He resumed his studies and in 1938 studies and in 1938 received a degree received a degree from the University of from the University of Iowa.Iowa.

The next few years The next few years were lean ones in were lean ones in which he variously which he variously wrote, waited on wrote, waited on tables, and worked on tables, and worked on a pigeon ranch.a pigeon ranch.

The Glass MenagerieThe Glass Menagerie opened on Broadway in opened on Broadway in 1945 and established 1945 and established Williams as a major Williams as a major dramatic talent.dramatic talent.

The play introduced The play introduced several motifs that run several motifs that run throughout the works: throughout the works: the vulnerable and the vulnerable and anguished woman who anguished woman who lives in a fragile lives in a fragile fantasy world; the fantasy world; the family hobbled by family hobbled by emotional or physical emotional or physical poverty; the poverty; the domineering and domineering and manipulative parent; manipulative parent; and the haunting sense and the haunting sense of the old South as a of the old South as a romantic bygone era.romantic bygone era.

In the next eighteen years, he In the next eighteen years, he wrote over a dozen plays, wrote over a dozen plays, including including A Streetcar Named A Streetcar Named DesireDesire, , Summer and SmokeSummer and Smoke, , The Rose TattooThe Rose Tattoo, , Cat on a Hot Cat on a Hot Tin RoofTin Roof, and , and Suddenly Last Suddenly Last SummerSummer. .

Along with Eugene O’Neill and Along with Eugene O’Neill and Arthur Miller, Williams is Arthur Miller, Williams is considered among the greatest considered among the greatest of American playwrights.of American playwrights.

His works have served as His works have served as vehicles on stage, screen and vehicles on stage, screen and TV for Marlon Brando, Elizabeth TV for Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Taylor, Richard Burton, Katherine Hepburn, Paul Katherine Hepburn, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Newman, Joanne Woodward, and John Malkovich. and John Malkovich.

Critic Kenneth Tynan observed of Williams’ Critic Kenneth Tynan observed of Williams’ works, “In his mental battlefield the real is works, “In his mental battlefield the real is perpetually at war with the ideal; what is perpetually at war with the ideal; what is public wrestles with what is private; what public wrestles with what is private; what drags men down fights with what draws drags men down fights with what draws them up.”them up.”

Williams’ focus on the conflict between Williams’ focus on the conflict between good and evil, flesh and spirit, links him to good and evil, flesh and spirit, links him to nineteenth-century moral symbolists—Poe, nineteenth-century moral symbolists—Poe, Hawthorne, and Melville.Hawthorne, and Melville.

Yet it is not these epic battles but the Yet it is not these epic battles but the human beings who fight them that we find human beings who fight them that we find memorable in the works of Williams—the memorable in the works of Williams—the outcasts, the odd, the lonely, and the outcasts, the odd, the lonely, and the vulnerable—who despite their flaws achieve vulnerable—who despite their flaws achieve a kind of dignity in their struggle to survive.a kind of dignity in their struggle to survive.

The Memory Play:The Memory Play: Tennessee Williams claimed Tennessee Williams claimed

that all his major plays fit that all his major plays fit into the “memory play” into the “memory play” format he described in the format he described in the production notes for this production notes for this play. The memory play is a play. The memory play is a three-part structure:three-part structure:

1. A character experiences 1. A character experiences something profound.something profound.

2. That experience causes 2. That experience causes what Williams terms “an what Williams terms “an arrest of time,” a situation arrest of time,” a situation in which time literally loops in which time literally loops upon itself.upon itself.

3. The character must relive 3. The character must relive that profound experience that profound experience (in that loop of time) until (in that loop of time) until he or she makes sense of it.he or she makes sense of it.

Although plays conventionally do not have Although plays conventionally do not have narrators, in this memory play Tom narrators, in this memory play Tom functions as both first-person narrator and functions as both first-person narrator and participant. participant.

In addition to this unusual point of view, In addition to this unusual point of view, Williams also makes use of another Williams also makes use of another technique usually more present in technique usually more present in narration than in drama: flashback.narration than in drama: flashback.

To signal the flashbacks Williams uses the To signal the flashbacks Williams uses the simple devices of Tom’s clothing and the simple devices of Tom’s clothing and the dramatic monologue. dramatic monologue.

When he is wearing the seaman’s coat and When he is wearing the seaman’s coat and hat, Tom is speaking in the present. hat, Tom is speaking in the present.

This dramatic convention is used This dramatic convention is used consistently throughout the play.consistently throughout the play.

American Dream/Nightmare:American Dream/Nightmare: This concept focuses on the unattainable American This concept focuses on the unattainable American

Dream due to socio-economic circumstances.Dream due to socio-economic circumstances. Dreams of wealth, success, and happiness are Dreams of wealth, success, and happiness are

crushed by the grim realities of the lower class crushed by the grim realities of the lower class existence. existence.

In this play, the American Dream, suggested by the In this play, the American Dream, suggested by the gauze curtains and romantic lighting, and its gauze curtains and romantic lighting, and its counterpart, the American Nightmare, grounded in counterpart, the American Nightmare, grounded in the claustrophobic tenement, are pitted as foils.the claustrophobic tenement, are pitted as foils.

The young narrator’s dreams, the mother’s The young narrator’s dreams, the mother’s attempts to recapture the graceful decorum of the attempts to recapture the graceful decorum of the old South, the daughter’s fragile fantasies, even old South, the daughter’s fragile fantasies, even the gentleman caller’s rosy optimism, cannot the gentleman caller’s rosy optimism, cannot remain in tact in this shabby, urban setting. remain in tact in this shabby, urban setting.

Stage Directions:Stage Directions: Stage directions function as Stage directions function as

exposition or description. exposition or description. At the beginning of the play, At the beginning of the play,

stage directions establish both stage directions establish both the setting and the mood by the setting and the mood by describing the grim tenement, describing the grim tenement, flanked by garbage cans, flanked by garbage cans, alleys, & fire escapes.alleys, & fire escapes.

The stage directions introduce The stage directions introduce major props and develop major props and develop characterization.characterization.

They also convey important They also convey important clues to the reader about how clues to the reader about how you should regard a scene.you should regard a scene.

Dialogue:Dialogue:

Dialogue functions to Dialogue functions to advance the action in advance the action in a play.a play.

Tom as the narrator Tom as the narrator remains more aloof remains more aloof and philosophical that and philosophical that Tom as a character.Tom as a character.

Amanda lapses into Amanda lapses into Southern coquetry in Southern coquetry in the presence of the the presence of the gentleman caller.gentleman caller.

Comparisons and Contrasts Comparisons and Contrasts Among Settings, Characters, and Among Settings, Characters, and

Scenes:Scenes: Representing the Representing the

twin worlds of fact twin worlds of fact and dream, the and dream, the claustrophobic claustrophobic tenement serves as tenement serves as a foil to both the a foil to both the fragile world of glass fragile world of glass animals and the animals and the romantic Deep South romantic Deep South of Amanda’s past.of Amanda’s past.

Themes:Themes: The overarching The overarching

theme for his plays, theme for his plays, Williams claimed, is Williams claimed, is the negative impact the negative impact that conventional that conventional society has upon the society has upon the “sensitive non-“sensitive non-conformist individual,” conformist individual,” with an emphasis on with an emphasis on the irrational and the the irrational and the desperation of desperation of humanity.humanity.

Elements of Modernism in Elements of Modernism in Williams’ Technique:Williams’ Technique:

New, plastic theatre vs. New, plastic theatre vs. theatre of realistic theatre of realistic conventionsconventions

Fluidity of Fluidity of consciousnessconsciousness

Unconventional Unconventional techniques & freedom techniques & freedom of conventionof convention

Emphasis on the Emphasis on the divided self: mask vs. divided self: mask vs. inner selfinner self

Narrative approach: Narrative approach: point of view & point of view & flashbackflashback

Music:Music: Used to evoke mood Used to evoke mood

and haunt memoryand haunt memory Reinforces the Reinforces the

symbolism in the playsymbolism in the play Williams describes the Williams describes the

recurring theme of recurring theme of music as light, music as light, delicate, sad, and delicate, sad, and fragilefragile

He adds that it is He adds that it is primarily Laura’s primarily Laura’s music and it emerges music and it emerges more clearly when the more clearly when the play focuses on herplay focuses on her

Lighting:Lighting: Dim and poetic, the Dim and poetic, the

lighting, along with the lighting, along with the gauze curtains, lends an gauze curtains, lends an unreal aura to the set, unreal aura to the set, suggesting that the family suggesting that the family functions in a world of functions in a world of dreamsdreams

Lighting gives truth the Lighting gives truth the “pleasant disguise of “pleasant disguise of illusion”illusion”

Laura’s lighting is distinctLaura’s lighting is distinct Spotlights appear on the Spotlights appear on the

photograph and the fire photograph and the fire escapeescape

The candelabrum is The candelabrum is another symbolic another symbolic representation of Laurarepresentation of Laura

Expressionism:Expressionism:

An art movement in the late 19An art movement in the late 19thth and and early 20early 20thth century advocating that art century advocating that art should be a direct expression of the should be a direct expression of the inner feelings of heightened inner feelings of heightened emotions of an individual through emotions of an individual through distortion or exaggerated obtrusion distortion or exaggerated obtrusion into the “outside” reality rather than into the “outside” reality rather than building art that tries to objectively building art that tries to objectively recreate the external “real” recreate the external “real”

Color in Color in The Glass MenagerieThe Glass Menagerie:: Blue is associated with Blue is associated with

Laura Laura Jim’s nickname for LauraJim’s nickname for Laura

—Blue Roses—suggests a —Blue Roses—suggests a phenomenon that is phenomenon that is contrary to naturecontrary to nature

Yellow is associated with Yellow is associated with Amanda (her yellow Amanda (her yellow dress and the jonquils)dress and the jonquils)

The color yellow comes The color yellow comes to suggest Amanda’s to suggest Amanda’s outgoing and optimistic outgoing and optimistic attitude, just as blue attitude, just as blue connotes the melancholy connotes the melancholy outlook of Lauraoutlook of Laura

Historical Context for the Historical Context for the Play:Play:

The Glass Menagerie The Glass Menagerie takes takes place place

In 1937:In 1937:Political Climate:Political Climate: Franklin D. Roosevelt is the Franklin D. Roosevelt is the

president of the U.S. president of the U.S. Neville Chamberlain Neville Chamberlain

becomes the British Prime becomes the British Prime Minister.Minister.

Japan invades the China Japan invades the China (the attack that some would (the attack that some would mark as the beginning of mark as the beginning of World War II). World War II).

At Francisco Franco’s At Francisco Franco’s request, Adolph Hitler request, Adolph Hitler bombs Guernica.bombs Guernica.

Social Climate:Social Climate: Movies were popular.Movies were popular. By 1930, 90, 000, 000 people attended movies By 1930, 90, 000, 000 people attended movies

weekly.weekly. Billie Holiday gains popularity for her “cool” jazz.Billie Holiday gains popularity for her “cool” jazz. Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture gets noticed.Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture gets noticed. Worker’s unions are on the rise.Worker’s unions are on the rise. New York Yankees win the World Series.New York Yankees win the World Series. Howard Johnson starts the trend of franchised Howard Johnson starts the trend of franchised

restaurants.restaurants. FDR states, “I see one third of a nation ill-housed, FDR states, “I see one third of a nation ill-housed,

ill-clad, ill-nourished.”ill-clad, ill-nourished.” Business activity suffers a sharp drop.Business activity suffers a sharp drop. The Miller-Tyding’s Act allows manufacturers to The Miller-Tyding’s Act allows manufacturers to

fix the resale prices of brand name merchandise.fix the resale prices of brand name merchandise.

Religious Climate:Religious Climate: ““I never knew that the Lord rented space…These I never knew that the Lord rented space…These

Northern Episcopalians! I can understand the Northern Episcopalians! I can understand the Southern Episcopalians, but these Northern ones, Southern Episcopalians, but these Northern ones, no.” (Amanda Wingfield, Act I scene 1). no.” (Amanda Wingfield, Act I scene 1).

The practice of some Episcopalian churches of The practice of some Episcopalian churches of labeling the pews with the names of church labeling the pews with the names of church members was unfamiliar to--and unwanted by--members was unfamiliar to--and unwanted by--Amanda.Amanda.

The practice was popular, however, and ensured The practice was popular, however, and ensured families the same seat every Sunday.families the same seat every Sunday.

At the start of the 20At the start of the 20thth century, the U.S. census century, the U.S. census listed 700,000 as Episcopalian; by the mid-30s, listed 700,000 as Episcopalian; by the mid-30s, the Episcopalian religion was introduced in many the Episcopalian religion was introduced in many towns by people like Tennessee Williams’ towns by people like Tennessee Williams’ grandfather, an Episcopalian minister, and was grandfather, an Episcopalian minister, and was spreading throughout the United States.spreading throughout the United States.

New in 1937:New in 1937: Supermarket Supermarket

shopping cartsshopping carts Drive-in bankingDrive-in banking Spam (the edible Spam (the edible

kind—not the kind—not the irritating emails!)irritating emails!)

U.S. blood bankU.S. blood bank AntihistaminesAntihistamines Golden Gate BridgeGolden Gate Bridge Nylon is patentedNylon is patented

Closing Thoughts:Closing Thoughts:

““It is no mere coincidence that many of our most It is no mere coincidence that many of our most memorable American plays…depict familial memorable American plays…depict familial tensions and alienations, the give-and-take of tensions and alienations, the give-and-take of domestic warfare. Indeed, the venerable tradition domestic warfare. Indeed, the venerable tradition of dramatizing family strife is by no means of dramatizing family strife is by no means uniquely American, as this motif transcends uniquely American, as this motif transcends cultures and predates Shakespeare’s cultures and predates Shakespeare’s HamletHamlet, , even going back to the drama of Aeschylus. even going back to the drama of Aeschylus. Tennessee Williams certainly realized that Tennessee Williams certainly realized that positioning crises of the heart within the positioning crises of the heart within the immediate family would provide ample material immediate family would provide ample material for audience empathy and catharsis, as virtually for audience empathy and catharsis, as virtually anyone can identify with similar levels of anyone can identify with similar levels of emotional conflict.”emotional conflict.”

“…“…MenagerieMenagerie reveals the story of family reveals the story of family members whose lives form a triangle of members whose lives form a triangle of quiet desperation, each struggling with an quiet desperation, each struggling with an individual version of hell, while individual version of hell, while simultaneously seeking an escape from simultaneously seeking an escape from the gravity of each other’s pathologies.”the gravity of each other’s pathologies.”

““Williams once described Williams once described Menagerie Menagerie as as ‘my first quiet play, and perhaps my last.’ ‘my first quiet play, and perhaps my last.’ From this quietness, however, his From this quietness, however, his characters’ cries of desperation will characters’ cries of desperation will continue to reach out for understanding as continue to reach out for understanding as long as we are there to listen.”long as we are there to listen.”

(Passages taken from Robert Bray’s (Passages taken from Robert Bray’s introduction to the play)introduction to the play)

Sources:Sources:

The United States in Literature: America The United States in Literature: America Reads: Classic EditionReads: Classic Edition. James E. Miller, Jr., . James E. Miller, Jr., Kerry M. Wood, and Carlota Cardenas de Kerry M. Wood, and Carlota Cardenas de Dwyer, Eds. Sunnyvale, California: Scott, Dwyer, Eds. Sunnyvale, California: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1991. Foresman and Company, 1991.

The Glass MenagerieThe Glass Menagerie. Perfection Learning . Perfection Learning Company, 1994. Company, 1994.

The Glass MenagerieThe Glass Menagerie. Contemporary . Contemporary Classics, 1977.Classics, 1977.

The Glass MenagerieThe Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee , by Tennessee Williams. New Directions version, 1999. Williams. New Directions version, 1999.

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