Topic > The theme of the inability to accept reality in The Glass Menagerie

Is it conceivable to escape into the farce of a world to ignore the everyday realities we all face? There's no doubt about it. Typical of human nature, we tend to find relief by dwelling in situations that reduce stressful anxieties in one's life as opposed to those that arise from the unforgiving circumstances occurring in one's life. This idea is present in Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, which uses the actions, portrayal of characters, and overall setting to further demonstrate the theme of the difficulty of accepting reality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In the show, each member of the Wingfield family struggles to overcome their perception of reality. As a result, none of the characters appear to live in the "real world", but instead in their own alternate realities. To process, everyone retreats into their own made-up world of illusions, which serves as a safe place where they can find comfort and meaning. Reality has by far the weakest hold on Laura, who is emotionally and physically paralyzed. Laura retreats into adolescent imaginations and “lives in her own world.” The fragile reality he lives in revolves around old records left behind by his father and collecting glass menageries. His escape involves hiding inside the apartment, avoiding the outside world. Instead of facing the difficulties of her life, Laura escapes into a world of fantasy, a world as fragile as her glass menagerie. Laura's escape from reality isolates her from the rest of the world because the fantasy she takes refuge in is absolutely unique. Unlike his sister, Tom Wingfield is seemingly unable to function in the real world, his difficulties lie within the house. Tom hopes for a better future as a means to escape his current state of depression due to having to put up with his overbearing mother. He has the habit of going to the "cinema" every night to experience the adventure he doesn't have in his life. Tom retreats into the fantasy provided by literature, movies, and the reckless act of drinking. When Tom isn't at the movies he works in a factory, even though he hates it, he does it to provide for his sister and mother. Although his mother pushes him to become a good worker, Tom emphasizes the fact that he is not happy with that kind of lifestyle. As Laura searches for comfort in the present and Tom searches for their mother's future, Amanda Winfield looks back to the past for comfort. Amanda is portrayed as a washed-out Southern belle whose relationship with reality is the most complex in the story. Whereas it can be inferred that Amanda grew up in a prominent Southern family and is now struggling to come to terms with her new lifestyle. Since it now suffers from a reversal of the economic and social hierarchy, it tends to deny its unsuccessful reality to return to the past. Unlike his children, he has no interest in real-world values ​​and desires financial and social success. However, these values ​​prevent her from realizing the truths of her life. For example, because of her traditional upbringing, Amanda expects Laura to have many men calling her waiting for her hand in marriage. However, it is known that Laura is not the typical prize for a suitor due to her shyness and inability to connect with the real world. Since he does not accept Laura for who she is and constantly tries to change her to make her more suitable for others. Although the Winfield family is held together by the unique way they cling to reality, the illusions they seek only hurt them. The main characters of the play neglect reality. The "characters believe in a future and a past that are not.”