Blog Post 5

          The Glass Menagerie, written by Tennessee Williams, may seem to parallel a typical modern play due to its modern use of language and relatively recent setting, but this is far from the truth. In The Glass Menagerie, the ending provides a different, odd conclusion, which is unexpected by the audience. The ending is particularly ambiguous, leaving the audience questioning what is truly the correct course of action when trying to escape from one’s current life.

          While The Glass Menagerie does not have a clear resolution for any of the characters, this is not very distinctive for an ending for a play. Many plays never reach a full conclusion in drama, allowing the audience to develop their own interpretation. Yet the conclusion in The Glass Menagerie is quite ambivalent and almost apathetic. Williams used all of Scene VII in the play to assert Laura’s character and help the audience grow to appreciate Laura and her different representation of beauty. But, after the climatic kiss, the play resolves itself in an uninspiring fashion. First the ending appears cyclical, evidenced by Jim’s unfortunate rejection of Laura and another nonsensical quarrel between Tom and Amanda. Then, once again, Tom heads to the movies. Such a closing to the plot makes Williams seem unsure of how the play should end; therefore he resorts to returning to what has been occurring all play. This repetition is simple and repetitive, but this is Williams’ intention. In ending the plot action in such an unsurprising manner, Williams’ easily makes the reader wonder if we all must try to escape our current lives at one point or another, as the whole Wingfield family wants to. Yet, he provides no answer to this question.

          Tom’s final monologue goes into greater depth in analyzing this idea of escaping life to seek adventure. Tom here reflects on his new life, where he “followed, from then, on his father’s footsteps” by traveling often from city to city (Scene VII. 646). He declares he “would have stopped, but I was pursued by something. It always came upon me unawares, taking me altogether by surprise” (Scene VII. 651-652). Finally, Williams appears to assert that being individualistic and following one’s personal desire is the best course of life. Not surprisingly, this soon changes. Tom then speaks of “Laura, Laura, I tried to leave you behind me, but I am more faithful than I intended to be!” (Scene VII. 660-661). Tom then continues on about how he is unable to escape Laura’s memory in whatever he does, forcing the audience to further examine this notion of adventure. Even though mankind can run away from certain lifestyles, Williams seems to illustrate that we may never be able to avoid memories and their effect on us. Williams even seems to ponder himself “Can we really escape our lives in full pursuit of  absolute adventure?”

          Many plays have ambiguous conclusions and The Glass Menagerie is no different. But what makes this resolution so unexpected is how even Williams does not know the answer to the question he is proposing throughout the play. Therein lies Williams goal in creating such an ending. Williams’ intention is to force the audience to think abstractly without his own influence, which this resolution does not contain. The conclusion of The Glass Menagerie fully realizes this goal of Williams.