TGM: Stage Directions and Character Descriptions

The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams

One of the first things of which I took notice while reading The Glass Menagerie was the specificity used by Williams in his stage directions and the descriptions of his characters. Normally, a play or any form of theatrical drama offers its producer the ability for some creative license. There is usually some sort of "free room" which the director or producer can use as his or her own expressive outlet. However, Williams leaves little room for free interpretation of the production of his play. He blatantly states the personality traits of his characters and vividly describes the appearance of the setting.

In addition to the concentration camp feel in regard to the execution of the play, there is also revelation of William's various literary techniques directly to the reader. He tells of the symbolism of the Laura's glass menagerie. He acknowledges the irony of Amanda's character by telling that there "is much to admire in [her], and as much to love and pity as there is to laugh at," (Williams 1234). Williams also uses Tom, a character in the play, as his narrator. Another twist, though, is that the play centers around the memories of Tom. With this information alone, the reader can decipher that the drama will be nonrealistic, yet Williams still feels the need to directly tell this in his stage directions. Needless to say, Williams does not want his audience to miss a single of his intentions, and he makes it obviously so.