Student Essay on How Does Tennessee Williams Use Playwrites Art in Scene 7 of the Glass Menagerie

In the play The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams uses the playwrights' art to introduce and develop key themes and generally, further the audiences understanding of the play along with its deeper meaning. In scene seven, the last scene of the play, Williams uses these techniques especially to summarise the main political and theatrical points that are developed throughout the play. The scene follows two important events, the discovery that Jim is engaged and the departure of Tom. Both reflect the hopeless situation that the Wingfield family is in and that they will probably never escape from their 'trap'. This emphasises Williams' political views on the enslavement of the working class and also the themes of, the attempted escape from reality, and the impossibility of real escape. These themes are repeated throughout the play and the final scene is a chance for the playwright to leave the audience with a clear idea of what these themes are. To portray these main ideas Williams uses a variety of stage techniques. Firstly, costume design helps to portray the characters feelings and ambitions, especially with Amanda in the final scene. Secondly, Set design which helps to create symbolism is used by the playwright and finally metaphor is used extensively especially in Tom's final speech to describe the feelings and intentions of the characters as well as add to the portrayal of the themes.

Firstly, the playwright Tennessee Williams uses costume design and indirect characterisation to emphasise the main themes that are portrayed in the final scene especially the escape from reality and the enslavement of the working class. Most obvious is the dress that Amanda wears during Jims visit to the apartment. "She wears a girlish frock of yellowed voile" which is a frock she "resurrected from the old trunk." This reflects her willingness to try and relive her youth by wearing these clothes from her past. As well as this Amanda often tries to bring back her past by living through Laura by, encouraging gentleman callers and ladylike qualities in Laura so that Amanda can relive her wealthy and popular days at "Blue Mountain." This reflects the theme of escaping from reality that is seen throughout the play. Amanda escapes her dull life of poverty and work through memories in the past; her costume helps portray this point to the audience. Furthermore the costume in scene seven helps to reflect the theme of the enslavement of the working class. Williams has the view that "the huge middle class of America was matriculating in a school for the blind." The Wingfields hopeless situation both financially and emotionally represents the rest of the working class and this portrays the trapped feeling that Tom experiences. Laura's is described as a "piece of translucent glass touched by light, given a momentary radiance." This reflects the fact that Laura's joy and hope at meeting Jim, represented by her beautiful dress, is only momentary and that she is destined to fall back into her old state of hopeless toil. Her short lived beauty emphasises the fact that the joy at finally getting a gentleman caller is only short lived. The Wingfields' have no hope of ever completely escaping.

Secondly, Williams uses set design which creates symbolism, in the last scene to contribute to the themes. The main case of symbolism in this theme is the glass menagerie and especially the unicorn that is broken by Jim. Significantly the unicorn is her favourite character in the menagerie and Laura feels as if she is in some way similar to the glass figure. "Now it's just like all the other horses." This reflects Lauras character at the same stage in the play. She feels out of place in the world, to fragile for modern society, but now that she has Jim to look after her she is just like everyone else, reflected by the unicorn becoming like all the other horses. It also reflects that Laura cannot become normal without somehow shattering. The glass menagerie shows Laura's extremely fragile nature and also her antisocial tendencies.

Also introduced to the audience is the Jim's nickname for Laura "Blue Roses." This again symbolises Laura's unusual attraction, much like the unicorn. The name is also associated with Laura's attraction to Jim and the joy that his kind treatment brings her. Furthermore, it recalls Tennessee -Williams's sister, Rose, on whom the character of Laura is based. The setting of Laura and Jim's conversation is also important. Williams describes the dim lighting of the room and both characters are seated on the floor which gives the passage a romantic feel. "I like to sit on the floor. Mind if I do." However the hopeless situation is again foreshadowed by the fact that the lights are only a switch away and there is the constant reminder of outside influences. "The door of the kitchenette swings closed on Amanda's gay laughter." Just like Laura's happiness their conversation cannot last.

Finally metaphor is used throughout the scene to aid in the description of the situation as well as the main themes. This is most effectively used in Tom's final speech where the play is finally summed up. "From then on in my father's footsteps." Tom is trying to escape from his responsibilities, just like his father, and he is resigned to the fact that he is doing a selfish thing. "Bastard son of a bastard." But perhaps the most effective metaphor is that of describing Laura as candle light trying to compete in a world of lightning. "For nowadays the world is lit by lightning! Blow out your candles, Laura." This emphasises the fact that Laura is fragile and must be protected, almost to fragile for the harsh modern society. It is the fact that his sister is so vulnerable which makes it so hard for Tom to leave.

In conclusion Tennessee Williams uses playwright's art to contribute to the main themes and ideas of the play, especially in the final scene. Firstly the costume of both Amanda and Laura emphasises the enslavement of the working class as well as escaping reality . Secondly symbolism and set design contribute to the characterisation and also the portrayal of the hopeless situation that the Wingfields are in. Finally metaphor is used to better describe the situation of the Wingfields to the audience and especially Tom in his final speech.