The Glass Menagerie Tone

Tennessee Williams "A Glass Menagerie" is defined by it's tone. "Laura Wingfield... having failed to establish contact with reality, continues to live vitally in her illusions" (1234).Williams presents a very bleek, and gloomy. No one in the story is truly happy. Not a one of the characters has what they truly want. From the beginning, the audience is introduced to a fatherless home. The mother lives in the past, while the son lives only for the future. Amanda relives her days of greeting gentleman callers, which makes the audience feel sorrow for the mother whose only positive experiences are in her past. Just as Amanda hates the present, so does Tom. He dreams for escape of the present, hoping that someday he can pursue his dreams of excitement and adventure. The fact that these two resent their present makes the audience feel the tension between the members of the family. Also, the sadness and frustration of the characters is put upon the audience instilling the characters feelings upon them. Tennessee Williams truly makes this story through his sad bleek tone.