Why does Tom mention “the social background of the play”?
The opening stage directions discuss the Wingfields’ living environment in terms of social class
. … The repeated mention of the poor social condition tells the audience that it will be important thematically and will perhaps influence the characters in the play.
In Tom’s very moving closing monolog, he alludes to World War II when he says that
Laura can blow out her candles
, “for nowadays the world is lit by lightning!” By contrasting the social backgrounds of America and Spain, Tom masterfully establishes the setting and the tone of the play and foreshadows its conclusion.
Williams introduces The Glass Menagerie through
a context of social upheaval- war already in Spain, imminent in Europe; labor unrest in American cities
. Tom’s opening narrative announcing the “social background ofthe play” sounds like a manifesto of both esthetic and social reform.
What are Tom’s roles in the play?
Amanda’s son and Laura’s brother, Tom plays a dual role in the play as
both the narrator and protagonist
. … He addresses the audience directly to frame and present analysis of the events, but he also participates in the play’s actions as a character within his own recollections.
What is the purpose of Tom Wingfield’s opening monologue?
Tom Wingfield addresses
the audience
in the play’s opening monologue. He appears dressed as a merchant sailor, which conveys that he speaks from the future. Looking back to the 1930s, Tom introduces the characters before the action of the play begins. Tom describes his dual role in order to warn the audience.
Why does Jim Kiss Laura?
Why does Jim kiss Laura?
He is politely telling her good by
. Tom has paid him to do it. He is showing his contempt of Amanda and her silly ideas.
What advice is Jim giving Tom in Scene Six?
Jim encourages
Tom to join him in the public speaking course he is taking
. Jim is sure that he and Tom were both meant for executive jobs and that “social poise” is the only determinant of success. However, Jim also warns Tom that, if Tom does not wake up, the boss will soon fire Tom at the warehouse.
What are the three themes in Glass Menagerie?
- Freedom and Confinement.
- Duty.
- Family.
- Memory and the Past.
- Weakness.
- Deception and Lies.
- Dreams, Hopes, and Plans.
- Abandonment.
What is the message in The Glass Menagerie?
The main themes in The Glass Menagerie are
memory and nostalgia, filial piety and duty, and gender roles
. Memory and nostalgia: The Glass Menagerie takes place in Tom’s memory. Tom, Laura, Amanda, and Jim each feel the pull of both painful memories and nostalgia.
What lesson can one learn from the play The Glass Menagerie?
The lesson of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is
the necessity of living in the real world without illusions
. Amanda and Laura, for different reasons, hide from the world and its many problems. It’s up to Tom to face up to the harsh reality of life in the real world, no matter how difficult that may be.
What word best describes Tom’s feelings toward his sister?
| Question Answer | What word best describes Tom’s feelings toward his sister? affectionate | What effect does Jim have on Laura once they are alone? He engages her in a real conversation. | What does Amanda think after she hears the news about Jim’s engagement? Tom was aware of Jim’s attachment to Betty. |
|---|
What did Mr Wingfield leave behind?
Wingfield has left behind,
the vitrola
and the records remind both the audience and the characters in the play of his existence. Based on the impact Mr. Wingfield has on the Tom, Amanda and Tom, we can deduce that he plays an important role in the play.
Why is Tom Wingfield the main character?
Tom is
faced with a sense of duty that he really doesn’t deserve
. Tom is torn between his past and his future throughout the play because of this sense of duty to help his family and his desire to be independent. Tom Wingfield is the protagonist or main character in the play, he is also the narrator.
Who does Tom say is the most realistic character in the play?
Jim O’Connor
Quotes. [TOM:] He is the most realistic character in the play, being an emissary from a world of reality that we were somehow set apart from.
Why is Amanda upset with Tom?
When they come up again, Tom and Amanda are
engaged in a loud argument while Laura looks on desperately
. Tom is enraged because his mother affords him no privacy and, furthermore, has returned the D. H. Lawrence novel he was reading to the library. She states that she will not permit that kind of “filth” in her house.
What does Laura do after she opens the door for Tom and Jim?
What does Laura do after she opens the door for Tom and Jim?
She faints. She starts crying and shaking
. She asks Jim if he would like to play a game.
