The Glass Menagerie 1

Question #1-

This play uses nonrealistic conventions. The fact that Tom is the narrator and an actor in the play makes it very interesting, but at the same time very out of touch with reality. At the beginning of the play, it mentions that Laura and Amanda are eating without the use of utensils or food, only mimicking the action. However, Tom also mentions that the entire play is a memory and when people recollect in real life, the food in the background was not as important as the fact that the people were eating. While the props and narrator may not be realistic, the ideas behind the story are. It shows the struggle between families- certain family members feeling depended on by the others, bitter hate for being trapped in a house and unable to go out. Tom's narration gives the story a realistic sense of his inner thoughts. When people remember in real life, often times our own selves narrate the story. That is what Tom is doing, and the audience can connect.