Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Jim

The Glass Menagerie-Tennessee Williams

The author describes Jim O'Connor as "a nice, ordinary, young man".  Tom describes him as "the most realistic character, being an emissary from that world of reality that we were set apart from."  In what ways is Jim "nice"?  In what ways is he "ordinary"?  In what ways and in what sense is he more "realistic" than the Wingfields?  Does this mean that he is without delusion?  What would you predict for his future?  Of what is he symbolic?

Jim's quality of "nice" is prevalent in his treatment of Laura.  Many would have ignored her due to her unusual physical and mental situation.  Yet, Jim treats her with the upmost respect and kindness as if nothing is wrong with her at all.  His kindness toward Laura can be traced back to when they were in school.  Talking to social outcasts is extremely uncommon in high school, especially with the popular kids.  So, the fact that he would ask about her condition after being ill with pleurosis.  In addition, he greets her afterwards with the nickname Blue Roses.  I think this offered Laura faith and slightest bit of confidence as well.  Jim is ordinary in that his has led the typical life.  He had a stable high school experience and upholds a rather decent job considering the time period.  He is more realistic because his life path is determined by the present times with his past have little effect on his present life unlike Amanda.  He does not want to escape like Tom and is not enveloped by his character flaws like Laura.  This does not necessarily mean he is without delusion, but that delusion is not a primary force of action in his life.  I see him having a stable future.  He would get married, have kids, experience the normal money struggles, but in the end, be known as a kind man whose character and kindness made all the difference.  According to Tom, Jim is used "...as a symbol; he is the long delayed but always expected something that we live for" (Williams, 1237).  I think this stresses how the conversation with Jim was a critical moment for Laura.  Now, she can progress knowing what she deserves.
   

Scenes 6 & 7-The Glass Menagerie

Tom finally comes through and presents Jim O'Connor to his family.  His tragic mistake is not telling Jim about Laura.  While Jim and Laura are having their discussion, it is clear that Jim gives her confidence.  At first, this seems to be merely false confidence.  Laura and Jim can never be together because Jim is engaged.  Yet, Jim still has something to offer.  When he and Laura break the glass horn off the unicorn, this seems to also break Laura's attachment to the imaginary world she lives in where she too is composed of glass.  "JIM.  Aw, aw, aw.  Is it broken?  LAURA. Now it is just like all the other horses.  JIM.  It's lost its--  LAURA. Horn!  It doesn't matter.  Maybe it's a blessing in disguise" (Williams, 1282).  What Laura says proves true, the evening shared between Jim and Laura was a blessing in disguise.  Though it ends in disappointment, Laura learns that she is capable of being viewed by others as a meaningful individual who is worthy of love.  The unfortunate aspect of this is that Laura could not get this feeling from members of her family whose love for her is undeclared.    

Scene 3-The Glass Menagerie

Tennessee Williams utilizes an apparent hyperbole in Scene 3 while Amanda and Tom are arguing.  Amanda is exhausted by the fact that Tom keeps going to the movies.  He finally loses it with her constant nagging.  Though he has actually been going to the movies, he exaggerates and says "I'm going to opium dens!...I've joined the Hogan gang, I'm a hire assassin, I carry a tommy-gun in a violin case!" (Williams, 1247).  This situation points out the unusual nature of how often Tom attends the movies.  The movies, for Tom, is another form of escape.  He goes there to find something that missing in his own life: adventure.  Tom is bored with the fact that his sister is too "fragile" to actually live an exciting life.  His mother is too obsessed with her past to even put the thought of her son's individual future into her mind.  All of this contributes to his envy/admiration of his father.  Tom, too, wants to escape and not have to look back ever.

Scene 1-The Glass Menagerie

This particular Tennessee Williams work has an almost transparent nature.  Everything is explained to the reader/audience.  The symbolism within the poem is directly noted as symbolism by Tom the narrator.  There is little analysis needed of the literary techniques utilized within the play because they are explicitly explained either by Tom or through the stage directions.  The characterization of Laura as a piece of her fragile glass collection is made clear in the character descriptions presented at the beginning of the play.  The father is described as a "fifth character"; therefore, suggesting he has an overarching impact.  In his opening monologue, Tom both points out what Jim O'Connor symbolizes and characterizes him.  "...and a gentleman caller who appears in the final scenes.  He is the most realistic character in the play, being an emissary from a world of reality that we were somehow set apart from.  But since I have a poet's weakness for symbols, I am using this character also as a symbol; he is the long delay but always expected something that we live for" (Williams, 1237).   Other aspects, such as the lighting and music, point out other implications throughout the play.  For example, whenever the father is discussed or thought of, his photograph has the tendency to light up.  The music "The Glass Menagerie" is often played whenever what is happening has an obvious or ambiguous effect on the character of Laura.

Anywhere But Here

The Glass Menagerie (the play as a whole)-Tennessee Williams

Each character of The Glass Menagerie seems to live in the what could have been/what could be/what should be rather than the present.  The three main characters share one aspect in common.  Tom, Amanda, and Laura are trapped by the fantastical world in which their minds reside.  Tom is haunted by the though of how badly he wants to escape like his father did.  His unrelenting desire for adventure serves as the main cause for his restfulness and hot temper.  He gets angry whenever the topic of him staying to take care of his family arises.  Amanda lives primarily primarily in her past, or the past she chooses to remember.  She constantly discussed how great her life was when she was younger.  In fact, she spends a large majority of her dialogue in Scene 1 discussing her past gentleman callers.  "AMANDA. 'One Sunday afternoon in Blue Mountain--your mother received--seventeen!--gentleman callers!'" (Williams, 1238).  Her past differs greatly from her present which appears somewhat dull and grey.  Laura's case is a little more peculiar than the others.  She lives in a world where overcoming her sense of inferiority seems an impossibility.  She has been classified as frail by society and therefore views herself as nothing more than this.  These specific character traits serve as the primary contributors to the stagnant nature the family currently discovers themselves in.