The Glass Menagerie has an overarching theme of how people can become trapped by both physical and emotional barriers. In addition, The Glass Menagerie addresses other themes and ideas, including:

Question

how obligation to family changes someone
conflict between one’s duty and one’s own dreams
how abandonment affects people
societal expectations of men and women
the nature of love and marriage.
Choose two of these themes and, in a two paragraph response (one paragraph being 5-8 complete sentences), analyze their development, explaining the details that convey each theme across the entirety of the play. Use specific quotations and evidence from the text to support your analysis.

Rubric

/2 Two complete paragraphs written
/4 Two themes identified and their development throughout the play is fully explained.
/3 Evidence from the play fully supports analysis and is properly cited
/1 Grammar correct throughout
(10 points)

Answer 1

In Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, the theme of obligation to family significantly shapes the characters' decisions and ultimately their lives. Tom Wingfield, who serves as the narrator and a character within the play, frequently expresses a sense of being trapped by familial expectations. He feels the weight of responsibility for his sister Laura and his mother Amanda, often depicted in his conflicted desire to pursue his own dreams. As he states, “I’m just going to be a poet,” highlighting his yearning for independence, yet he remains tied to his family and their needs. Amanda's relentless pressure on Tom to support the family and fulfill her vision of a brighter future for Laura illustrates how deeply ingrained familial obligation can dictate choices. Her dismay when Tom expresses a desire to leave for a life of adventure underscores this theme, revealing the profound tension between personal aspirations and filial duty.

Another central theme in The Glass Menagerie is the conflict between one’s duty and one’s own dreams, which is poignantly embodied in Laura's character. Laura Wingfield, whose delicate nature and fragility are mirrored in her collection of glass animals, becomes emblematic of the struggle between societal expectations and personal fulfillment. Despite her mother’s incessant push for her to embrace life and engage with the world, Laura retreats into her own realm of fantasy, stating, “I don’t want to make a thing of it,” when pressured to interact with Jim, the young man Amanda hopes will be Laura’s future. This moment showcases Laura’s internal battle; her desire to please her mother and conform to societal norms directly clashes with her overwhelming shyness and fear of reality. Ultimately, Laura's retreat into her glass menagerie signifies a surrender to her dreams of isolation and safety, emphasizing how personal desires can become subsumed by the unyielding expectations imposed by loved ones. Through these characters, Williams deftly illustrates the heart-wrenching consequences of prioritizing family obligations over individual dreams.