Essay On The Fire Escape In The Glass Menagerie - 817 Words

Topic 1 B People always want an escape from life’s hardships and burdens. Symbolism in literature can be used to magnify that yen to escape from life. Tennessee Williams uses a fire escape to show the longing people have to escape from their life. In the Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams believes that the fire escape represents an escape from Tom’s reality, responsibilities, and problems. The fire escape represents an opportunity to escape from Tom’s reality. The word fire represents the anger and pain in his life. The word escape literally represents an escape. So this device represents an escape from his reality. He has to deal with the anger and frustration of his mother not understanding him, and being treated poorly. Whenever he†¦show more content†¦She wants to make it clear to him that he needs to stay and provide for them in almost a selfish way. He is burdened with the financial security of his family, and the fire escape is his only way to escape from the harshness of his responsibilities. The fire escape represents Tom’s way to escape from the problems that he has with his mother and his life. Tom has many problems in his life that he has to deal with everyday such as his job and living with his mother. Tom argues with Amanda, â€Å"You think I want to spend fifty-five years down there in that celotex interior! with fluorescent tubes! Look! I’d rather somebody picked up a crowbar and battered out my brains†¦ † (759). Amanda is worried that Tom is jeopardizing his job, but Tom says he does not care.Tom absolutely hates working in that warehouse. He would rather have somebody batter out his brains with a crowbar than work in a warehouse. This is an example of one of his problems. He cannot even quit his job because then he would not be able to support his family. He is stuck with this job so he can provide for his family. â€Å"Tom smashes his glass on the floor. He plunges out on the fire-escape, slamm ing the door† (784). Tom leaves to the fire-escape after another one of his arguments that he has with his mother. He follows his father and leaves his family behind. He goes to the fire-escape because he believes that leaving will help him escape from his problems. He wants to walk away from everything and justShow MoreRelated Essay on the Symbolism of the Menagerie in The Glass Menagerie1002 Words   |  5 PagesThe Symbolism of the Menagerie in The Glass Menagerie      Ã‚   Tennessee Williams play, The Glass Menagerie, describes three separate characters, their dreams, and the harsh realities they face in a modern world.   The Glass Menagerie exposes the lost dreams of a southern family and their desperate struggle to escape reality. Williams use of symbols adds depth to the play. 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