Glass Menagerie
by Tennessee Williams
At first I thought I would be confused by Tom being both the narrator and a character, but what helped with the distinction was diction the author used for the narrator and the character of Tom. The word choice and style of speaking for the two parts was quite different. Tom as a narrator uses much more sophisticated and calm diction, as opposed to the character's choppy, fiery, simple diction. Tom as a character exits the story in a storm- "The more you shout about my selfishness to me the quicker I'll go, and I won't go to the movies!" (Williams, 1288). In contrast, the narrator's ending in the play is much more soothing and wise- "TOM: I didn't go to the moon, I went much further- for time is the longest distance between to places...For nowadays the world is lit by lightening! Blow out your candles, Laura, and so goodbye..." (Williams, 1288-9) This difference in diction not only helps distinguish the two parts but also helps character feel more relatable while at the same time portraying the narrator as a wise man who has grown since the time of his memory. Tom the narrator is looking back at the particular time of his life and comments on it not with the bias of hindsight, but more with the knowledge and clearer view of experience.
If the narrator had the same loose diction as the character, the reader might not give his insight much merit and might assume that Tom has not changed at all. If the character had the same diction as the narrator, the character would not be as easy to relate to and might come of as pretentious.
The varied diction helps in not only telling the difference between the two parts, but also the difference between the two roles both the narrator and the character play in contributing to the theme. The play is a memory play and the sophisticated diction of the narrator helps to display that and also show how Tom has grown.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Symbolism
The Glass Menagerie
by Tennessee Williams
As stated in the title, Laura's glass menagerie play a key role in the theme of the story. The glass is small and frail. Laura cares for the glass very much because it is like herself. Laura is quiet and frail, but can have a subtle beauty, just like glass when it hits the right light.
The first time some glass is broken is when Tom and Amanda are having an argument and Tom shatters some glass pieces in his clumsy attempt to storm out. "[The coat] strikes against the shelf of Laura's glass collection, there is a tinkling of shattered glass. Laura cries out as if wounded" (Williams, 1248). The glass is almost a part of her. The shattered glass symbolizes how the innocent Laura is caught in between and harmed by the fights between her mother and brother.
Another example of the glass's symbolism is when Laura and Jim are talking about the little unicorn. When Jim accidentally breaks the horn off the unicorn, Laura says, "Maybe it's a blessing in disguise...The horn was removed to make him feel less- freakish!" (Williams, 1282-3) I see this as a symbol for how Jim made Laura feel less freakish. That's why she let him keep it as a souvenir; she wanted him to remember how he helped her and that she cared for him as well. Jim helped Laura come out of her shell a bit and develop an attachment toward a person over an attachment to glass.
by Tennessee Williams
As stated in the title, Laura's glass menagerie play a key role in the theme of the story. The glass is small and frail. Laura cares for the glass very much because it is like herself. Laura is quiet and frail, but can have a subtle beauty, just like glass when it hits the right light.
The first time some glass is broken is when Tom and Amanda are having an argument and Tom shatters some glass pieces in his clumsy attempt to storm out. "[The coat] strikes against the shelf of Laura's glass collection, there is a tinkling of shattered glass. Laura cries out as if wounded" (Williams, 1248). The glass is almost a part of her. The shattered glass symbolizes how the innocent Laura is caught in between and harmed by the fights between her mother and brother.
Another example of the glass's symbolism is when Laura and Jim are talking about the little unicorn. When Jim accidentally breaks the horn off the unicorn, Laura says, "Maybe it's a blessing in disguise...The horn was removed to make him feel less- freakish!" (Williams, 1282-3) I see this as a symbol for how Jim made Laura feel less freakish. That's why she let him keep it as a souvenir; she wanted him to remember how he helped her and that she cared for him as well. Jim helped Laura come out of her shell a bit and develop an attachment toward a person over an attachment to glass.Conflicts
The Glass Menagerie
by Tennessee Williams
Many of the conflicts in this story are intertwined. The family lives in close quarters and the three family members have distinctly different personalities which occasionally clash. In addition, internal conflicts can manifest themselves as or lead into external conflicts.
Tom, for example, has the internal desire for adventure that conflicts with the fact that he is stuck in his warehouse job and stuck with his dependent family. "TOM: Man is by instinct a lover, a hunter, a fighter, and none of those instincts are given much play at the warehouse!" (Williams, 1253) This conflict causes Tom to be unhappy and confrontational. He smokes, drinks, and argues with his mother.
In Laura's case, her external setback, the fact that she is cripples, lead to her internal conflict of being shy while trying still to fulfill her mother's expectations of having suitors. Laura doesn't want to be impolite or anti-social, she is just very self-conscious.
I noticed that Laura becomes less shy around Jim when they get into talking and she senses his warmth. Jim might just bring Laura out of her shell and be the resolution to the conflict.
by Tennessee Williams
Many of the conflicts in this story are intertwined. The family lives in close quarters and the three family members have distinctly different personalities which occasionally clash. In addition, internal conflicts can manifest themselves as or lead into external conflicts.
Tom, for example, has the internal desire for adventure that conflicts with the fact that he is stuck in his warehouse job and stuck with his dependent family. "TOM: Man is by instinct a lover, a hunter, a fighter, and none of those instincts are given much play at the warehouse!" (Williams, 1253) This conflict causes Tom to be unhappy and confrontational. He smokes, drinks, and argues with his mother.
In Laura's case, her external setback, the fact that she is cripples, lead to her internal conflict of being shy while trying still to fulfill her mother's expectations of having suitors. Laura doesn't want to be impolite or anti-social, she is just very self-conscious.
I noticed that Laura becomes less shy around Jim when they get into talking and she senses his warmth. Jim might just bring Laura out of her shell and be the resolution to the conflict.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Sarcasm Characterizes Tom
The Glass Menagerie
by Tennessee Williams
Tom is obviously a very outgoing and prominent character, especially since he is both the narrator and the brother, leading to a very interesting point of view. Tom is characterized through many facets: directly through stage directions and his own description as a narrator, and indirectly through Tom's words and actions. The author uses verbal irony as one way to give the reader some insight into Tom. For example, Tom's sarcastic and exaggerated response to his mother's accusations of his shady night antics gives the reader a glance at Tom's unique and not necessarily positive character traits. "TOM: I'm going to opium dens! Yes, opium dens, dens of vice and criminals' hang-out, Mother. I've joined the Hogan gang, I'm a hired assassin, I carry a tommy-gun in a violin case!...(Williams, 1247). Tom's words reveal his stubbornness and independence. Tom appears condescending and almost disrespectful to his mother- he even mentions that she can't tell him what to do or where not to go because he is the one that pays the rent.
In addition, Tom uses his sarcasm to avoid honesty with his mother Amanda. Tom has before avoided uncomfortable or interrogating questions, and using sarcasm to blow off his mother's concerned questioning might just be the start of Tom's tactics to avoid uncomfortable situations.
by Tennessee Williams
Tom is obviously a very outgoing and prominent character, especially since he is both the narrator and the brother, leading to a very interesting point of view. Tom is characterized through many facets: directly through stage directions and his own description as a narrator, and indirectly through Tom's words and actions. The author uses verbal irony as one way to give the reader some insight into Tom. For example, Tom's sarcastic and exaggerated response to his mother's accusations of his shady night antics gives the reader a glance at Tom's unique and not necessarily positive character traits. "TOM: I'm going to opium dens! Yes, opium dens, dens of vice and criminals' hang-out, Mother. I've joined the Hogan gang, I'm a hired assassin, I carry a tommy-gun in a violin case!...(Williams, 1247). Tom's words reveal his stubbornness and independence. Tom appears condescending and almost disrespectful to his mother- he even mentions that she can't tell him what to do or where not to go because he is the one that pays the rent.
In addition, Tom uses his sarcasm to avoid honesty with his mother Amanda. Tom has before avoided uncomfortable or interrogating questions, and using sarcasm to blow off his mother's concerned questioning might just be the start of Tom's tactics to avoid uncomfortable situations.
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| Tommy gun in a violin case |
Thursday, September 20, 2012
"The Joy of Cooking"
"The Joy of Cooking"
by Elaine Magarrell
I find this poem humorous and amusing. The title is deceptively innocent, because cooking seems like suck a simple, enjoyable, and innocent activity. But the speaker is talking about cooking some of her siblings body parts! That just sounds evil. "Best with horseradish and economical- it probably will grow back. Next time perhaps a creole sauce or mold of aspic?" (Magarrell). The speaker is talking calmly and matter-of-factly about eating her sister's tongue, and even ponders how she will cook it the next time if or when it grows back.
The fact that the poem is a little gross and quite wicked only adds to the humor. It is very exaggerated, obviously the speaker is not going to eat her sister's tongue and her brother's heart, but in describing these activities, the speaker expresses her negative feelings toward her siblings. Now these feelings could range anywhere from pure hatred, to strong annoyance, to simple frustration. I know I have felt at least two of these feelings toward my siblings before, and I might have considered cooking their tongue for dinner. But the fact that the poem is quite unrealistic, but detailed, is what makes it so amusing.
by Elaine Magarrell
I find this poem humorous and amusing. The title is deceptively innocent, because cooking seems like suck a simple, enjoyable, and innocent activity. But the speaker is talking about cooking some of her siblings body parts! That just sounds evil. "Best with horseradish and economical- it probably will grow back. Next time perhaps a creole sauce or mold of aspic?" (Magarrell). The speaker is talking calmly and matter-of-factly about eating her sister's tongue, and even ponders how she will cook it the next time if or when it grows back.
The fact that the poem is a little gross and quite wicked only adds to the humor. It is very exaggerated, obviously the speaker is not going to eat her sister's tongue and her brother's heart, but in describing these activities, the speaker expresses her negative feelings toward her siblings. Now these feelings could range anywhere from pure hatred, to strong annoyance, to simple frustration. I know I have felt at least two of these feelings toward my siblings before, and I might have considered cooking their tongue for dinner. But the fact that the poem is quite unrealistic, but detailed, is what makes it so amusing.
"Those Winter Sundays"
"Those Winter Sundays"
by Robert Hayden
This poem kind of made me sad- the imagery and indirect characterization of the father created a sense of pathos; I pitied the solitary but loving father. The indirect characterization, the actions of the father, tell the reader that the father is a dedicated and hardworking man who loves his children and takes very good care of them. "...him, who had driven out the cold and polished my good shoes as well" (Hayden, 782). The father labors tirelessly during the week, then on the weekends, he gets up early in the bitter cold to make the house warm for his family. And "no one ever thanked him" (Hayden, 781). The cold is imagery that is used a lot to show the hardships and pain the father goes through to care for his children. He suffers for them. I definitely feel an amount of pity for the man, and I hope now that the speaker is looking back on it, he realizes how much his father truly loved him and cared for him.
by Robert Hayden
This poem kind of made me sad- the imagery and indirect characterization of the father created a sense of pathos; I pitied the solitary but loving father. The indirect characterization, the actions of the father, tell the reader that the father is a dedicated and hardworking man who loves his children and takes very good care of them. "...him, who had driven out the cold and polished my good shoes as well" (Hayden, 782). The father labors tirelessly during the week, then on the weekends, he gets up early in the bitter cold to make the house warm for his family. And "no one ever thanked him" (Hayden, 781). The cold is imagery that is used a lot to show the hardships and pain the father goes through to care for his children. He suffers for them. I definitely feel an amount of pity for the man, and I hope now that the speaker is looking back on it, he realizes how much his father truly loved him and cared for him.
"The Drunkard"
"The Drunkard"
Frank O' Connor
There is a lot of irony in this story, especially situational irony. The father is a known alcoholic, and wants to go to a funeral to pay respects to his friend, but also to have some drinks. His son Larry goes with him to try to serve as a "brake" on the father's drinking. It becomes ironic when Larry keeps his father from drinking by getting drunk himself. "They all stopped gabbling to gape at the strange spectacle of two sober, middle-aged men bringing home a drunken small boy with a cut over his eye" (O'Connor, 349). The boy and man have essentially switched places, because the neighbors would expect the man to be drunk, but never the child.
His father is embarrassed and upset, and the mother acts upset as well, but later congratulate her son for being his father's guardian angel. Because the father saw the effects of drinking on his son, and felt irresponsible and was criticized in the situation, he swore off drinking. The neighbors actually found humor in the boys drunkenness, but they gossiped about it later. I find this ironic as well, because when the father got drunk, people either expected it, or got mad, like the wife. But when something unnatural, illegal, and disturbing happens, like a boy being drunk, they find it humorous.
Frank O' Connor
There is a lot of irony in this story, especially situational irony. The father is a known alcoholic, and wants to go to a funeral to pay respects to his friend, but also to have some drinks. His son Larry goes with him to try to serve as a "brake" on the father's drinking. It becomes ironic when Larry keeps his father from drinking by getting drunk himself. "They all stopped gabbling to gape at the strange spectacle of two sober, middle-aged men bringing home a drunken small boy with a cut over his eye" (O'Connor, 349). The boy and man have essentially switched places, because the neighbors would expect the man to be drunk, but never the child.
His father is embarrassed and upset, and the mother acts upset as well, but later congratulate her son for being his father's guardian angel. Because the father saw the effects of drinking on his son, and felt irresponsible and was criticized in the situation, he swore off drinking. The neighbors actually found humor in the boys drunkenness, but they gossiped about it later. I find this ironic as well, because when the father got drunk, people either expected it, or got mad, like the wife. But when something unnatural, illegal, and disturbing happens, like a boy being drunk, they find it humorous.
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