Watch this video from scene 7 of The Glass Menagerie. After watching the scene, analyze what you saw and discuss how you think this scene relates to a theme of the short story. You may use quotes, examples from the video, or pretty much anything relating to this scene that will help you describe the theme.
go to this address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKI49JfNPNc
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13 comments:
In this scene, Laura looks ... a little crazy. She is completely obsessed with her glass animals. It seems to the observer as if she likes having something to control, as her own life is dominated by the desires of her mother and her own fear of social interaction. She herself is incapable of functioning in society because she cannot cope with even the simplest of social situations. Her would-be suitor in this scene is merely patronizing her, as it is plain that he takes no real interest in her animals.
This scene marks the climax in Laura's struggle with socialization. Since her youth Laura has had a tendency to become physically ill whenever she has to be around others. Even at the beginning of scene seven Laura is nervous, experiencing shortness of breathe, when Jim, her crush from high school, calls on her.
The video captures Laura and Jim after dinner when they are alone. Laura becomes comfortable with Jim, talking with him in close proximity, almost at ease. Laura's admiration of Jim causes her to come out her shell to face reality.
Laura proceeds to show Jim her "glass menagerie" and her unicorn in particular. Jim notes that it must be the last of its kind, as there are none left in the normal world; he notes that it must get lonely. Laura responds that it is not lonely, or at least it does not complain. With the pause that follows, we can immediately relate the unicorn to Laura and the theme of isolation.
Since her youth Laura has isolated herself. Even though we can imagine that she must be lonely, Laura seems to be content when she is left alone. During this scene we are even able to enter the imaginary world that seems to be created whenever she is with her glass menagerie. This is especially evident with the scene's music. The story reaches its climax when Laura and Jim knock over the unicorn while dancing. Instead of growing agitated, Laura forgives Jim, saying that now the piece will feel more comfortable with the others since it now looks more like a horse than a unicorn. This response brings Laura back into the real world. With the relationship she seems to be growing with Jim, Laura is less dependent on her isolation. This, however, comes to an end when Jim confesses, after kissing Laura, that he is engaged.
Good job guys! You both display a very in-depth understanding of the theme of Laura's isolation from society. She gets very uncomfortable and physically ill when she is forced to interact with the outside world and would rather spend time with her glass menagerie than with actual people. As John pointed out, Laura often feels repressed by her mother's dominant personality and feels in control when she's with her glass collection. Alice also brings up a good point about the fact that Laura becomes more social after she meets Jim and doesn't care as much about her glass figures.
In this scene, Laura introduces her glass menagerie to Jim. She describes the collection to him with so much passion, that she appears crazy. She treats the inanimate animals almost like they are human beings. When picking up the unicorn, she states, “He’s nearly thirteen,” as if it is alive. When Laura lets Jim hold the glass unicorn, she is essentially handing over her most prized possession. She becomes vulnerable once it leaves her hands. This shows that she deeply confides in him.
Jim also makes a comment about the unicorn being lonesome. This is a reference to the theme of isolation in the play. Laura has been isolated from society since her youth due to her leg injury and her shyness. She becomes so nervous around people, that she would rather stay inside and spend time with her glass menagerie. Laura has become so attached to the figurines because they have kept her company over the years, when no one else has been there. They bring her a sense of security and peace.
A major theme in The Glass Menagerie is reality vs. illusion. Each member of the Wingfield household tries to escape the harsh reality of their lives by creating their own world based on illusion, especially Laura. In real life, she is extremely shy and can be brought to tears by simple situations, but in her made-up world of glass figurines, she is confident and happy.
The video shows these characteristics of Laura very well. When Jim asks Laura what she likes to do, she immediately goes from being shy to excited. She is comfortable talking about her beloved collection of glass animals, and she treats each figurine like it is alive. She allows Jim to hold her prized glass unicorn, but bids him to be careful with it, as it is fragile.
When Jim breaks the unicorn, it represents the shattering of Laura's world of illusion. When she is kissed by Jim, she finally realizes what it is like to be normal. This forces her to face reality, and she can no longer fully live in her world of illusion again.
I feel that this video shows exactly how out of touch Laura is with reality. When she encounters Jim again for the first time since her childhood, we learn that even then, she has let her slight disability hold her back from what she has wanted to be. Jim is merely going along with her obsession with her glass animals, as it is clear that he does not find them nearly as interesting as she does.
However, just as it seems that Jim is starting to pull Laura out of her shell figuratively, he shatters this new reality by stating that he is already engaged. But since she has been removed from her world of illusion, there is no returning, and the effect that this has on the family structure is monumental; it is little wonder that Tom chose to leave shortly after.
The parallels between Laura's glass animals and her own fragile mental condition are clearly drawn in this scene. It is as if the rest of the world has gone on turning while Laura has stood still. She can't adapt to the social conventions of the time because she lives in the past. She can't seduce her high school sweetheart because she is but a fragile child all to capable of breaking when she is thrust into society; much like the effect gravity has on her glass menagerie. Just as Jim seems to catch our attention by wooing Laura with memories from High School, he all too easily crushes her. Like Meera said, there is no going back to her "world of illusion" after this incident. The already failing familial ties of the Wingfield crew crumble. The audience has to understand how Tom would have had to leave.
This scene is a strong example of Laura's childishness. Her glass collection is the equivalent to a little girl's collection of dolls. She treats her glass animals like her children, much as a little girl would care for a doll. Laura has personified her entire collection, but more specifically her unicorn. She constantly refers to the unicorn as "he" and reminds Jim to "hold him gently,"(Clip). Since Laura has no live companions, aside from her pushy mother and hostile brother, she finds friends in her glass menagerie. We also see her naivete in her interactions with Jim. He was her high school crush, and now that he is back in Laura's life, her attitude toward him is unchanged. She is completely enamored with him, as a little girl might be with her first crush.
The last sentence in the video clip highlights this entire scene. Readers are able to see how Laura can easily be compared to her glass collection.
Referring to her Glass Menagerie collection Laura says, "They all like a change of scenery once in a while," but this quote can also be applied to Laura herself. For once in her life Laura is experiencing a change of scenery- She has recieved her first caller, is becoming less shy, and is more confident in her appearance. More importantly, for once in her life, Laura actually seems to be enjoying herself.
Like her Glass Menagerie collection, Laura has also been closely monitered by her caretaker, or mother Amanda. Both are extremely fragile, as demonstrated through the unicorn breaking and Laura's lack of self-confidence due to her disability.
Laura's comparasion to glass shows readers that her personality is unstable. The fact that Laura becomes less dependant on her collection as Jim brings her out of her shell shows how Laura has become more of a stable character. The glass being shattered while dancing with Jim forshadows the breaking of Laura's heart when Jim announces that he is already engaged to be married.
This scene perfectly coincides with the reality vs. illusion theme of the story. Laura treats the glass menagerie as if it lived and had real human emotions. Laura comments on how the piece of glass needs a change of scenery and how it is 13-years-old, as if it were an actual being she needed to care for. She is giving off a really creepy vibe and she seems to be completely out of her right mind. She is so lost in an entirely different dimension that she barely seems to be interacting with Jim or notice he is even there apart from when he is handling the glass menagerie and she becomes completely alone and her life is in his hands. Her obsession over the glass figurines forces her to forget the real world and recede within her own delusional mind.
I agree with Abby. This scene show laura's struggle between reality and illusion. As Laura shows Jim the unicorn she states "doesn't the light just shine through him?" Laura's isolation from reality shows in her childlike actions as she plays with her toy unicorn. She is nervous around people and the unicorn is her friend which gives her a sense of security. The unicorn displays light which is something luara struggles with therefore the unicorn is part of the illusion in her world, an escape from reality.
Lighting in this scene shows the light, airy world that Laura lives in. The bright and lively room is a symbol of Laura's happiness in her own world. Laura is comfortable around Jim and even allows him to hold one of her most prized glass ornaments. The lack of space between Laura and Jim shows their feelings for one another and that Laura trusts him. Her enthusiasm when telling Jim about her glass menagerie is a sign of Laura's ignorance. She does not think to be sure that he actually cares for her and gets her when he tells her that he is engaged.
Alice, great job with developing the theme of isolation.
Deidre, wonderful portrayal of Laura's attachment to the figurines.
Andrea, glad you brought up the theme of reality vs. illusion.
Meera, I agree that Jim shattered the illusion.
Coleen - the parallel you drew is very important.
Anne Stuart, this scene definitely emphasizes Laura's childishness.
Ashley, excellent example of the role of the menagerie.
Abby, great point about her delusional mind.
Tripp, glad you brought lighting to our attention.
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