Symbolism is used in many literary works to foreshadow or emphasize an event that is about to happen or already has happened in the story. This technique is used by Tennessee Williams in The Glass Menagerie. In this play, symbolism is used to show the shattering of illusion in the lives of Laura, Tom, and Amanda Wingfield. When the class unicorn is dropped from the table and its horn falls off, the illusion starts to fade as truth shows through.
Laura Wingfield seems to live in a world separated from reality by miniature glass animals. She uses her glass menagerie to escape the real world and her pavidness. When Jim O’Connor comes to dinner, however, he lack of confidence starts to vacillate with his constant compliments. After awhile she has loosened up enough to dance with Jim. This dance shoes a big improvement in Laura as they dance around the room they bump into the table where the unicorn sits, sending the small glass animal to the floor. Upon hitting the floor the unicorn’s horn falls off. The biggest change in Laura can be seen in her reaction to the unicorn’s horn amputation. Rather than weeping uncontrollably or yelling at Jim, treating it as an atrocity as may have been expected, she picks it up, reassures Jim it’s OK, and gives him this piece of glass. her shock regarding this event is ephemeral overall. All of these actions show Laura’s break away from the glass world she once engulfed herself in. The symbolism in Laura’s case emphasizes the recent change, however the symbolism used in Tom’s case is used to foreshadow events yet to happen later in the story.
Tom Wingfield is constantly nagged by his mother and is waiting for the chance to break away. When the unicorn breaks in the story it does not symbolically emphasize an event that has already occurred in Tom’s life, but rather foreshadows one that will soon take place. Shortly after the unicorn breaks Tom decides he can no longer live under his mother’s overbearing control. He decides, as a result, to pursue his dreams by becoming a sailor. This action shows Tom’s realization that he can no longer live his life to please his mother, but rather he needs the freedom to live the life that will best please himself. The symbolism shows quite a different change in Amanda Wingfield.
Amanda Wingfield does not break through the glaze of illusion that coats her life on her own, but rather as a result of Laura and Tom’s realizations. When the unicorn breaks, symbolizing Laura and Tom’s break into the real world. it also symbolizes Amanda’s break into reality as a result of her children’s. When Laura no longer lives in a world filled with glass and Tom decides to move out of her control she is forced to realize that she cannot live vicariously through her children. She realizes that she has been living in the past. She can no longer ignore Tom’s dreams and Laura’s handicap. She is forced to catch up with the times.
In conclusion the unicorn’s loss of a horn is used to symbolize the loss of illusion in Laura, Tom, and Amanda’s lives. Laura breaks free of her attachment to her glass figurines. Tom, shortly after the symbolic event, decides to pursue his own dreams rather than living to please his mother. Amanda, as a result of both Laura and Tom’s realizations is forced to catch up with the times and let go of the past.
