the term memory play was coined to
describe this work I thought perhaps you
wished for a gentleman call why do say
that welcome to watchmojo.com and in
this installment of mojo notes we'll be
exploring 10 things you should know
about Tennessee Williams The Glass
Menagerie oh I tell you things that
would make you sleepless my enemies are
planted to dynamite this place number 10
about the author born in 1911 in
Columbus Mississippi Tennessee Williams
published his first short story at age
17 after university he took up multiple
jobs while honing his skills as a
playwright he found the most success
with the Glass Menagerie and a streetcar
named desire though he continued to
write health and personal problems
eventually led to his death in 1983
number nine influences and inspirations
Williams short story entitled portrait
of a girl in glass and screenplay called
the gentleman caller serve as the two
main sources of inspiration for the
Glass Menagerie Williams own life also
loosely shapes this four character
memory play for instance the character
of Tom is similar to Williams while
Tom's sister Laura was likely inspired
by the writers real-life sister Rose
speak she won't to me it's her that
started not speaking you just say your
source just not speaking her not
speaking is that such a tragedy
number eight settings and era as the
plays narrator it's Tom Wingfield who
recounts his time with his family during
1937 the idea of getting a gentleman
caller for my sister Laura began to play
a more and more important part in my
mother's calculations while he's telling
the tale from a future point in time the
main action is based around his memories
while living in an apartment in st.
Louis number seven plot I remember
suggestion it would be nice fellow
sister if you brought home some nice
young man from
aah narrated by Tom who is also the
plays protagonist The Glass Menagerie
takes us back to when he worked at a
shoe warehouse to support his mother
Amanda and his sister Laura because
laura has a limp and is extremely shy
Amanda worries she won't get married but
should I wish for a finish Tom brings a
colleague named Jim to meet his sister
but things don't work out I'll always
treasure though souveneir since he was
already unhappy with his life and then
is blamed for the situation with Laura
and Jim Tom ultimately leaves his family
didn't you tell me that he was your best
friend that warehouse he is but how did
I know number 6
Tom Wingfield Tom's father left many
years ago so Tom feels forced to help
his mother and sister but his job at the
shoe warehouse is boring and I'm
fulfilling he'd rather be a writer is it
going crazy about the warehouse you
think I'm in love with a continental
shoemakers you think I want to spend 55
years of my life down there that's
Celotex interior in order to escape from
this dull existence he goes out at night
with hippyish been to the movies though
is unhappiness later causes him to leave
his family Tom still expresses affection
for his sister number 5 Amanda Wingfield
Amanda is a single mother trying to take
care of her children following the
departure of her husband several years
ago you know I've had to put up a
solitary battle all these years but you
my right-hand Bower now don't fail me no
fall down
she is infatuated with the past and
especially her time as a southern belle
because she is unhappy with the present
but she's very much concerned with the
future specifically that of her children
pushing Tom to be more responsible and
desiring a husband for Laura tell you
what a waste fall on an old success and
happiness for my precious children
that's what I wished for
number 4 Laura Wingfield and Jim
O'Connor though she's the older sibling
Laura Wingfield is a fragile person
with a limp no you Oh
ill instead of dealing with reality she
prefers to retreat into her own world
with her glass figurines at the center
she's as rare and unusual as a blue rose
or a unicorn and as delicate as her
figurines her unselfish personality is
in stark contrast with the rest of her
family she's also the character around
which the plot turns because her mother
wants a man to support her Loras
eventually introduced to her brother's
colleague how do you do Jim turns out to
be a former high school crush and the
only person who's able to really
understand and connect with Laura
well I judge you to be an old-fashioned
type of girl I think that's pretty good
type to be you know I hope you don't
think I mean too personally however his
engagement to another woman prevents
their relationship from progressing any
further I thought I'd explain the
situation in case you misunderstood and
I hurt your feelings
number three values and themes the main
theme of The Glass Menagerie explores
how strongly memories and living in the
past can affect people the play also
deals with what it's like to feel
trapped as demonstrated by Tom's
unhappiness with his job and living with
his family why do you go to the movies
all the time I go to the movies mother
because I like adventure bojong and find
adventure Nick curry an adventure is
something you don't get much of in a
warehouse
yet at the same time he feels a duty to
his family other themes dealt with in
the play include the effects of denial
the pursuit of dreams and the roles of
gender number two modern popularity
after finding fans in several critics
during its initial Chicago run in 1944
The Glass Menagerie helped Williams earn
his first taste of success and paved the
way for more success with a streetcar
named desire the play also spawned
multiple stage performances and inspired
several parodies you what with your
seventeen
when callers number one adaptations
though there have been radio productions
of the play the more known adaptations
are its on-screen versions these include
the 1950 film with Kirk Douglas and the
1987 Paul Newman directed flick but the
best received version is the
emmy-winning 1973 TV movie with
Katharine Hepburn and Sam Waterston
maybe she's the type people call home
girls there's no such type and if there
is it's a pity do you agree with our
list what's your favorite piece of The
Glass Menagerie trivia you know it
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wish you happiness and good fortune
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