Trampled Dreams
Trampled Dreams
Tennessee William's, The Glass Menagerie, tells the stories of three characters, their aspirations and goals, the challenges they strive to overcome, and the upsets that they are forced to confront. The play opens with a gentleman standing in a poorly lit alley wearing all dark clothing. The faint sounds of a train passing through can be heard in the background. As the train fades away, the sounds from Tom Wingfield’s footsteps can be heard in the distance. Tom, who is played by Sam Waterston, works in a shoe factory but dreams of living a more adventurous lifestyle; one that does not consist of St. Louis. In order to pursue his dream, he abandons his family just as his father did before him. His sister Laura, played by Joanna Miles, is different than most girls her age. She “lives in a world of her own… in a world of glass animals.” She is also ashamed of her abnormality, which is a result of her being born with one leg slightly shorter than the other. As a result, she hides in her mother’s apartment all day to shield herself from the brutal truths of the real world. Their mother Amanda, played by Kathryn Hepburn, was jilted by her husband several years earlier. The only thing they have left of his is a photograph they leave hanging on the wall as a constant reminder of how they are the remnants of a broken home. Countless symbols are used in the play which helps to build the story. The glass unicorn, the most unique animal out of the entire glass menagerie, is the central symbol. The coffin by which a magician escapes from during one of his acts is yet another symbol. Tom's sister Laura represents despair, broken dreams, and weakness. However, her nickname represents her unique yet enthralling disposition. Candles and moonlight are used several times throughout the play to represent possible hope. Williams masterfully used these symbols and several others to create a remarkable play that tells the...
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