Blog 2- The Glass Menagerie

One of the most prominent symbols used in The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams is Laura being like the glass which she takes interest and fascination in. The glass collection, which spark the book's title, are a representation of Laura, which are presented in ways that correlate with Laura's characteristic qualities. I first noticed this when Laura, cries out when Tom shatters her menagerie at the end of scene 3. "It strikes against the shelf of Laura's glass collection, there is a tinkle of shattering glass. Laura cries out as if wounded,"(Williams,1248). Laura shows emotional attachment to her collection and feels herself affected when harm comes in the glass' way. Just like the statement in the opening of the play, "she is like a piece of her own glass collection, too exquisitely fragile to move from the shelf,"(Williams,1234). Laura feels shattered, just as her glass is, and is too socially anxious and reserved to ever move away from the "shelf," in this case her comfortable surroundings and comfort zone. Therefore, unfortunately, Laura may never branch out and leave her shell and become more solid and withstandable. I feel that as the play continues, glass will be further associated with Laura, her uniqueness, and her fragility.