The Glass Menagerie: Post 1

The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams

This play is a memory play, but of whose memory? "This play is memory...I am the narrator of the play, and also a character in it" (Williams, 1236). As the play begins, Tom directly addresses the audience and states that he is both the narrator and a character in the play. Because he narrates the play, this eludes to the idea that the play is filled with his memories. Many scenes contain some form of a direct address from Tom to the audience. In these speeches, Tom seems to explain his view of the happenings in the play in a more removed/objective fashion than watching his direct interactions with other characters. In addition, the actions of the play seem to develop from Tom's character in the play. For example, the main event of the play was introducing a caller to Laura. Tom's reluctant/coerced invitation made this event possible. Because the actions stem from Tom, this also contributes to the idea that the memories are Tom's. In addition, Tom's character in the play gives the audience a look at his thoughts in a more personal way than his speeches directly addressing the audience.