The Glass Menagerie Conflict Analysis

All people have dreams that they wish to attain. However, everyday, the dreams that we desire are constantly in conflict with reality. “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams showcases this conflict through Laura, who spent the entire play in strife due to her conflict between what she hoped for and her reality. We want to be normal; we do not want to be a pariah from a society demanding conformity, similarly Laura wished to be a normal girl but her disability prevented that. We want to live without conflict; we do not want to deal with constant discontent in our lives and Laura, whose entire world was essentially her family did not want strife among them but their warped family dynamic prevented that. We want to love and be loved; we want

This is why people put so much effort into avoiding it and our hatred of conflict is also not a construct of modern society. Once again, Laura is no different; she does not like conflict and the biggest source of conflict in her life is her family; but her family is also essentially the only aspect to her life. Laura is constantly in an effort to please both her mother and brother who, simply put are not fond of each other. In the opening scene of the play, Laura offers to go get the blancmange to appease Amanda immediately after Tom snapped at her to prevent the situation from escalating. When Laura hears Amanda returning home she quickly sits in front of the typewriter so that Amanda would not be mad at her for neglecting her studies. She even lied about attending college to avoid conflict with Amanda, “Mother, when you’re disappointed you get that awful suffering look on your face… I couldn 't face it:” (Sc. 2 pg.14) Despite all her efforts Amanda still has conflicts with both Laura and Tom. During the large fight Tom and Amanda are having in Scene 3, it is written in the stage directions that In front of them stands Laura with clenched hands and panicky expression the conflict between these two clearly causes her great distress. During this fight one of her glass figures shattered which represented the literal shattering of her dream to live without conflict. Although she was able to later coax Tom into apologizing,

The globally understood desire that everyone longs for is someone to love and to love them unconditionally; including Laura. We know that Laura did like Jim during highschool and based on how joyfully she recalls her memory of him we can deduce that she still harbored feelings toward him, “He had a wonderful voice…See his grin?... When I had that attack of pleurosis - He used to call me - Blue Roses” (Sc.2 pg.15) In her mind her disability was a major obstacle in the way of anyone who would love her since when Amanda brought up the plan to get Laura married her first concern was the fact that she was crippled, “But, Mother - … [in a frightened tone of apology] I’m - crippled!” (Sc.2 pg.17). Laura’s true desire was for someone who would love her regardless of her affliction which in her mind was impossible which are why Jim’s remarks at the end of play have such a profound effect on her. “Has anyone ever told you that you were pretty? Well you are! In a very different way from anyone else. … They’re common as - weeds, but - you - well, you’re - Blue Roses! … You’re pretty!... In all respects… your eyes - your hair - are pretty!” (Sc.7 pg.78-79) Throughout her entire life she was defected compared to other girls and to have someone who she was enamoured with tell her those wonderful things was bliss. Her greatest desires for love were finally fulfilled.