The Glass Menagerie

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 doesn’t 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 successful at it. Whether through dreams or actually walking away, everyone manages to break free. Tom is, by far, the biggest dreamer. Tom dreams of leaving the “…over crowded urban centers of lower middle-class population” (1267). Tom envies his father who actually had the guts to walk out. Tom expresses this when he tells Amanda, “…Mother, I’d be where [the father] is!” (1277). Tom wants to leave so desperately that he “…paid [his Merchant Marine] dues this month, instead of the light bill” (1295). Tom would rather think of himself

The only problem is that Amanda and Laura never get anywhere with their fake realities and end up in the exact place they tried to get away from. In the end, the only people who succeed or even have a chance are the people least connected with the Wingfield family. It has to be said that , just like the glass unicorn, this family is transparent, pitiful and broken. Tom says he is ""tired of the movies" (1294) meaning that he is ready for his own adventures. So in the end, Tom isn"tmt successful at escaping his realities. She even admits that the brace on her leg ""sort of -stood between her-and making friends" (1301). Each character from Williams"tm The Glass Menagerie is looking for some unseen escape route. Laura never tries to do anything but live in a reality where she is afraid of everything. "Laura"tms glass collection takes up a good deal of her time" (1303). There are no handicapped children, especially her not her own. Their methods of escape consist of what goes on inside their heads. When Tom does finally escape his realities they continue to haunt him. They escape their poverty and positions in society by creating their own unique realities. Jim and the father use their brains and gumption to succeed in finding the path. This is just one more remark that makes you think that Jim will succeed.