Open Prompt Practice (Nov. 11)

2009. A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

Sometimes, perhaps more often than not, a person's most prized possession is not the most costly, but the one with the most sentimental value--the one that holds the most meaning. In Tennessee Williams' play, The Glass Menagerie, Laura Wingfield has an clear attachment to her set of glass creatures, especially a unicorn which loses its horn later in the story. As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that the unicorn is meant to represent Laura, and the fragile zoo is her connection with the outside world. She, being the unicorn, feels singled out for her differences in a world of "normal" creatures.

After the Wingfield family is introduced, Laura is seen polishing her glass figurines. She, though shy, fantasizes about the outside world, creating an idealized picture of her interactions. However, she lacks the confidence to step out of her sphere and shrinks from opportunities her mother brings to her because she feels crippled by her slight deformity in her leg. Hoping to avoid further disappointment in her failure to connect with the world, she hides her true desire, to become a part of society--represented by the glass menagerie--under the table as her mother steps in.

Later, Laura's brother Tom, after a heated discussion with their mother about his job, throws his coat across the room, breaking some of Laura's glass figures. Tom worked in a factory to pay the bills, but he had been visiting bars at night and risked being fired. Without his income, the family would be unable to support itself and, as represented by the broken glass, Laura's chance to connect with the world would be shattered. Somewhat regretful of how he impacted his sister, Tom picks up the pieces and promises to himself that he would try to help her reach her goal.

Some time later, Tom invites one of his friends, Jim, to dinner, intending to hook him up with Laura. At first, Laura is traumatized and separates herself from the others, preferring the company of the record player; but soon, she peeks out of her shell and shares her glass menagerie with Jim, effectively showing she has gained confidence in herself in making her first connection. In their interactions, the unicorn takes a fall and loses its horn, to which Laura says the unicorn has become just a normal horse. She has forgotten her differences in the moment and understands she can be accepted into the world even if she is a little different from everyone else.

Being a "unicorn" is not an especially easy task in a world of normal creatures. Laura hid her menagerie from her mother, herself from the world, because she feared she would be judged for her differences. When her brother was on the boarder of losing his job, her fragile connection with society was nearly shattered completely. With his assistance, however, she was able to pick up the pieces and share her menagerie. Unfortunately, the relationship was fleeting, as Jim was already engaged, but with bolstered confidence, she was able to, at least temporarily, step out of the glass walls she built around herself and become a part of the world she lived in.