“Time is the longest distance between two places.”
Author: Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams was a renowned American playwright of the 20th century. His name
refers to the birth state of his father. His major works include A streetcar named desire, For
cat on a hot tin roof, The night of the Iguana, etc. He even won the Pulitzer Prize for A
Streetcar named desire. Most of his characters signify his family members.
About the novel
The Glass Menagerie is a memory play by Tennessee Williams. The play revolves around the theme of travel back and forth in time. The characters Tom Wingfield, Amanda Wingfield, and Laura Wingfield feel alienated in their individual lives. The protagonist of the play, Tom works in a shoe warehouse to back up his household. However, he’s poorly paid and barely appreciated. The characters relate to the motif, unicorn, which looks unique despite their strange attributes. Similarly, the character also feels like a glass menagerie, which when breaks get its significance.
Genre: Memory play
Tone: Narrative, melancholic, metaphorical, etc.
Type: Fictional novel
Year of publication: 1944
Significant themes
The failure to accept reality and reject the illusionary world.
The inability to escape truth and lead the life of a fugitive.
Memory as a power to exert back in consciousness.
Familial bond and nostalgic moments.
Abandonment of relations and desertion of bonds.
Motifs
Unicorn
Music
Screenplay
