Tom's Narrative

"And while the other boys in the warehouse regarded me with suspicious hostility, Jim took a humorous attitude toward me. Gradually his attitude affected the other, their hostility wore off and they also began to smile at me as people smile at an oddly fashioned dog who trots across their paths at some distance."-vi.1262

     The play "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams portrays the life of Tom, Amanda, and Laura, a broken family struggling in St. Louis. As is common in portrayals of societal dilemmas, the family must struggle not only with finances but also the social expectations of their society. An important distinciton in the play recognizes Tom, the lowly warehouse worker and sole breadwinner for the family, as the narrator. The narration by Tom sets "The Glass Menagerie" apart from Shakespearean plays, but does not fully reveal the portrayal of characters and settings, as the dialogue continues to serve that purpose. When narrating the play, Tom speaks in educated prose, which is a contrast to his normal dialogue with Amanda. The contrast is made through the diction and descriptors Tom utilizes in his prose speaking. Tom goes to great lengths to describe Laura, Jim, and his mother, and he does so with his own historical context in mind. Outside influences such their jobs and finances play heavily into his recollections of life with Amanda and Laura. I believe Tom's narration has a calculated purpose, however. This play bases its action on the firsthand account of Tennesse Williams. He is in fact Tom, and he therefore writes this play with many wrapped emotions. Perhaps Williams included Tom's narratives to temper the memory of his real emotions from this time in his life. Memory tends to intensify emotions humans recollect from significant points in their lives, and Williams seems to acknowlege this trend. Besides, the play would have been overly emotional and less understandable without Tom's descriptions.