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hollysilsbury's review
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book solidified my love for Tenesse Williams. As I read this play I felt like I understood him after studying A Streetcar Named Desire for two years. There were a lot of similarities between the two and I now feel like I can pick up on his nuances and writing style. The feeling of desperation, hysteria and depndency are what make this play as well as asnd so beautifully tragic.
The use of glass throughout the play demonstates a fragility similar to the paper lantern in asnd. Both alluring objects that are highly valued, then broken, to establish the end of an already weak sanity. There are a lot of things I could talk about, I could write an essay. I want to consume everything Williams has produced.
The use of glass throughout the play demonstates a fragility similar to the paper lantern in asnd. Both alluring objects that are highly valued, then broken, to establish the end of an already weak sanity. There are a lot of things I could talk about, I could write an essay. I want to consume everything Williams has produced.
erinwilham's review
3.0
The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, was written in order to show the elusiveness of dreams in the face of societal limitation. The protagonist, Tom Wingfield, dreams of escape and adventure, but is bound to his job at the warehouse to provide for his family. Meanwhile, Tom’s mother, Amanda, is determined to fulfill her own undiscovered dreams vicariously through the success of her children.
A major theme of this drama is the attractiveness of dreams and fantasy over reality. All three of the main characters in the play are reluctant to face reality. Laura, for example, withdraws into a world of her own, collecting glass animals that reflect the fragility of her condition, while Tom avoids the reality of home life by watching movies, reading, and drinking. Lastly, Amanda avoids seeing reality as it truly is by convincing herself that she is the high-class Southern belle that she has always dreamt of being, that Laura is a perfectly normal girl who should be receiving as many gentlemen callers as she used to, and that Tom is on the verge of business success. Amanda’s avoidance of reality is less intentional than her children’s, but in this way it is also more severe and distorted.
Williams wrote The Glass Menagerie in the perspective of the protagonist, Tom Wingfield. The narration takes place in the form of Tom’s memories so that he is both the narrator of the play as well as a participant in the action. The way that the story was written was made effective because the dialogue was easier to follow than a novel and the scenes were very easy to visualize because of Williams’ descriptive stage directions.
Although I don’t usually enjoy reading plays as much as novels, I liked The Glass Menagerie overall. Because it was short, it was a fairly easy read and it kept my attention throughout the plot. If I were to rewrite it, the only thing I might change is the length of some of the stage directions, because I felt that sometimes Williams was overly descriptive of the scenery, which I didn’t think was entirely necessary and it became distracting.
A major theme of this drama is the attractiveness of dreams and fantasy over reality. All three of the main characters in the play are reluctant to face reality. Laura, for example, withdraws into a world of her own, collecting glass animals that reflect the fragility of her condition, while Tom avoids the reality of home life by watching movies, reading, and drinking. Lastly, Amanda avoids seeing reality as it truly is by convincing herself that she is the high-class Southern belle that she has always dreamt of being, that Laura is a perfectly normal girl who should be receiving as many gentlemen callers as she used to, and that Tom is on the verge of business success. Amanda’s avoidance of reality is less intentional than her children’s, but in this way it is also more severe and distorted.
Williams wrote The Glass Menagerie in the perspective of the protagonist, Tom Wingfield. The narration takes place in the form of Tom’s memories so that he is both the narrator of the play as well as a participant in the action. The way that the story was written was made effective because the dialogue was easier to follow than a novel and the scenes were very easy to visualize because of Williams’ descriptive stage directions.
Although I don’t usually enjoy reading plays as much as novels, I liked The Glass Menagerie overall. Because it was short, it was a fairly easy read and it kept my attention throughout the plot. If I were to rewrite it, the only thing I might change is the length of some of the stage directions, because I felt that sometimes Williams was overly descriptive of the scenery, which I didn’t think was entirely necessary and it became distracting.
anthsu's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
cherryobscura's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cxffee_addxct's review against another edition
3.0
I had to read this play for my Design class and of all the plays I've read for school, this one...didn't really stand out to me? The massive blocks of narration and stage direction really drag you kicking and screaming out of the action of the play. And oh my GOD, the mother!! She's basically the queen of narcissism!! Anyway, this play is just a perfect example of why I'm so glad I'm in tech instead of an actor -- the script was boring af to read, but designing the show was a lot of fun.
agoines's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
appreeshation's review
i must have reread this book at least five times for literary criticism..i could recall every single detail of this book bc i had to take a test on it……it paid off though everyone say top 5 team in the state!!!
(also every single tom line is highlighted in my book bc hes so funny and real. every time i hear your rise and shine i think how lucky DEAD people are.. like..so true king!!!!)
(also every single tom line is highlighted in my book bc hes so funny and real. every time i hear your rise and shine i think how lucky DEAD people are.. like..so true king!!!!)
katykelly's review
3.0
3.5 stars
I loved Streetcar and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by the same writer. They both seemed meatier than this, which felt abrupt.
Amanda frets for her adult children who both live with her, the forever-out Tom and shy, 'crippled' Laura. She persuades Tom to bring home a clean-living friend from his warehouse job to meet Laura. This turns out to be someone Laura remembers very well.
I found William's later work much more fleshed-out than this, on sometimes similar veins. I didn't really see much point in the 'glass' metaphor, but can imagine the role of Amanda would be a good meaty one for an actress to play. Though not in the same league as Blanche or Maggie.
I loved Streetcar and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by the same writer. They both seemed meatier than this, which felt abrupt.
Amanda frets for her adult children who both live with her, the forever-out Tom and shy, 'crippled' Laura. She persuades Tom to bring home a clean-living friend from his warehouse job to meet Laura. This turns out to be someone Laura remembers very well.
I found William's later work much more fleshed-out than this, on sometimes similar veins. I didn't really see much point in the 'glass' metaphor, but can imagine the role of Amanda would be a good meaty one for an actress to play. Though not in the same league as Blanche or Maggie.