Illusion Vs. Reality In The Glass Menagerie By Tennessee...

Illusion versus reality is a theme that illustrates the conflict people have when they have difficulties in their lives. They want to deny or ignore the difficulty, so they force themselves to think in a different way and believe something that is not true, thus, making an imaginary world for themselves. They have a desire to live in a different world and fool themselves to thinking that they are, but in reality, they are not. Authors use this theme in their writing to highlight the effect of these illusions on someone. In The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams uses metaphors, the fire escape, and Laura’s glass menagerie to emphasize how the characters retreat to their world of illusion to escape from reality. Williams uses Laura’s glass†¦show more content†¦However, the reason people think that Laura is peculiar is because she lives in her imaginary world and excludes herself. Williams emphasizes on the point of the fire escape being used to support the theme of illusion vs. reality. Tom uses the fire escape to escape his reality of a life filled with stress. The fire escape represents an escape from the fires of exasperation and dysfunction that occur in the Wingfield’s household. He yells at his mother then get sarcastic with her because she never believes that he goes to the movies. â€Å"They call me Killer, Killer Wingfield, I’m leading a double life...On those occasions they call me El Diablo..†(760). Then he heads out to the movies. The quote shows how Tom can not stand his life Williams explicates on this by talking about how Tom could not deal with his life at the shoemakers and it was stressing him out so he go to movies to forget about it. Additionally, He came back from the movies, forgetting all about his life all drunk and ridiculously happy, â€Å"There was a big stage show! The headliner on this stage show was Malvolio the Magician...First it turned to wine and then it turned to beer and then it turned to whiskey I know it was whiskey it finally turned into because he needed somebody†¦.†(760). Tom goes to the movies to escape and uses wine, whiskey, and beer to even further get away from his reality. Tom frequently steps out onto theShow MoreRelated Illusion vs. Reality in Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie1614 Words   |  7 PagesIllusion vs. Reality in Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie      Ã‚  Ã‚   The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, contains multiple themes.   While there are many themes, the theme that holds the piece together is illusion versus reality.        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This theme is established very quickly, In fact, the first paragraph of the play describes the illusions to take place, But I am the opposite of a stage musician.   He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth.   I give you truthRead MoreTennessee Williams and Works, a Look at Illusion vs. Reality1625 Words   |  7 PagesIllusion Vs. Reality Tennessee Williams and his works deal heavily in the contrast of illusion and reality and the characters struggle with this. Illusion vs. Reality is a major theme is mostly all of his dramatic works. The majority of these characters find themselves in a state of illusion. This was intended by Tennessee Williams to show how unavoidable and definite falling into illusion, or insanity, can be. Williams sister Rose affected him greatly when she became schizophrenic. ThisRead MoreImportant Symbols and Themes of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams7390 Words   |  30 PagesImportant Symbols and Themes of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams Tennessee Williams play, The Glass Menagerie is considered a memory play because it is told from the memory of the narrator. The narrator, who is also a character, is Tom Wingfield, the youngest member of the Wingfield family. The other characters are Amanda Wingfield, his mother; Laura Wingfield, his older sister; and Jim OConnor the gentleman caller. A fifth character is represented by the photograph Read More Illusion vs. Reality in The Glass Menagerie Essay2797 Words   |  12 PagesIllusion vs. Reality in The Glass Menagerie      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams uses the roles of the members of the Wingfield family to highlight the controlling theme of illusion versus reality. The family as a whole is enveloped in mirage; the lives of the characters do not exist outside of their apartment and they have basically isolated themselves from the rest of the world. Even their apartment is a direct reflection of the past as stories are often recalled from the