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Unicorn In The Glass Menagerie

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Female identity is constantly being influenced by men. In Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, the theme: The Continuation of Female Dependence on Men Leads to Their Downfall, is communicated through symbolism because of the portrait of Laura and Tom’s father, Amanda’s dependence on a gentleman caller coming to save her and Laura, and Laura giving Jim her most prized glass ornament, a unicorn, to hold, which he eventually breaks. The portrait of the father represents the two men that Amanda depended on to provide for both her and Laura. The gentleman caller represents the man that gives Laura a false hope of being taken cared for and loved by a man. The unicorn represents Laura fragility and how she relied on Jim on taking care of her, …show more content…

Laura has a glass menagerie and out of all of them, the unicorn is her favorite because it represents her. A unicorn is a special animal that is different from others, so it stands out, which is similar to Laura because she is handicapped, so that makes her stand out. When Laura and Jim meet, Laura gives Jim her glass unicorn to hold and says, “Go on, I trust you with him!” (Williams 83). Laura saying “I trust you with him” is her saying that she trusts Jim with taking care of her. Jim then sets the unicorn on the table. As their “date” went on, they hear music from the Paradise Dance Hall and Jim tries to convince Laura to dance along with it. They dance and as they moved around the room, Jim hits the table that he sets the unicorn on, and breaks it. As stated in scene seven of The Glass Menagerie, “Aw, aw, aw. Is it broken? Now it’s just like all the other horses. It’s lost its― Horn! It doesn’t matter. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. You’ll never forgive me. I bet that that was your favorite piece of glass. I don’t have favorites much. It’s no tragedy, Freckles. Glass breaks so easily. No matter how careful you are.” (Williams 86). The glass unicorn breaking and Laura saying how “now it’s just like all the other horses” show that now Laura is also now like the other horses. Jim being the one …show more content…

The portrait of the father constantly reminds Amanda, Laura, and Tom about a man that they depended on who left them for traveling. The gentleman caller was what Amanda relied on to save her and Laura from the financial condition that they are in, but in the end he turned out to be engaged. The unicorn represents Laura, so when she gave it to Jim to hold she was giving Jim her, but he ends of breaking both the unicorn and Laura. Therefore, relying on others will lead to the downfall of one

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