The play Glass Menagerie Review

The play Glass Menagerie brings out appearances that do not portray the actual events in the real world. Within the play, it is realized that these occurrences appear in contrast with reality. These impressions represent illusions. The play’s title in itself is a symbol used to portray a fragile world of illusions and dreams that characters hide themselves in. Their incapability to deal with the reality that has imprisoned them in dreams, have translated to the breakdown in the social values of life, such as family and responsibility. The play’s central character Amanda, a deserted lonely mother of two Laura and Tom, exist in a non-realistic world of illusion. The Glass Menagerie reveals the theme of escapism and relates it to the current world escapism through movie watching and computer gaming trend.

Escapism refers to the habitual mind diversion to an imaginative entertainment or activity to get rid of the routine and reality (Davidovic 53). Escapism as used in this play operates in twofold: firstly, the escape from the real world truth and memories as demonstrated by Laura and Amanda hiding in their past and denying the present state of events. Secondly, other characters are featured escaping from their past dreams and memories into the real world. Tom, for instance, desires that he gets away with his past and live in the real world. It is common in today’s world to see people who spend all day watching films or playing computer games just because they do not want to face the reality. This usually happens after an abrupt change in their lives and especially after a tragedy. In the present world, most people are unable to accept their current situation and tend to keep their minds occupied in fantasies to avoid reality.

The play has portrayed how characters find difficulty in accepting the present day challenges of life. For instances, Amanda is featured escaping by denying the fact that her daughter is crippled. She is therefore destined to failure and disappointment at the end. Later in the play, she is forced to accept bitter reality of losing her family when Tom abandons her while Laura remains unmarried. Laura is seen escaping from imposing reality structures into an unrealistic world that she can keep perfect and control. In some parts of the play, Laura is seen meditating the memories of freely working in the park and the glass menagerie. When her mother confronts her, she escapes by loudly playing music to keep away the argument. Both of them, however, do not see their present status. Connectively, Tom is seen escaping…”