The Glass Menagerie #1

In The Glass Menagerie, there are three main characters who are all related. At the surface, they seem to be a loving family. Mother Amanda, sister Laura and brother Tom. Tom is the main character so far it seems to be. He is also the narrator. At the beginning of the play, we discussed in class realistic and nonrealistic. Right off the bat, Tom says that the gentelman caller is the most realistic character. (page 1236) However, we are not introduced to him until later in the play. In the first five scenes, I feel as though the play is realistic. They have a family who has some problems that lie in between them especially Amanda and Tom. They argue frequently. For instance, on page 1245 Tom and Amanda are arguing about where Tom has been and what he has been doing. This is realistic. Parents are always worried about where their kids may be. Later on, they address the issue of the sister Laura. She dropped out of school and is crippled. (1253-161) These seem to portray all realistic qualities of a family. The nonrealistic sense comes in the stage setting. Walls are missing and ways of talking are changed. This is exemplified in the direction of the narrator in the beginning of the scenes.