The Glass Menagerie Group

Question:

perezj
perezj
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What is the narrator's role in "The Glass Menagerie"?  What would be gained or lost without him?

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Posted by perezj on Sunday October 5, 2008 at 5:45 PM and tagged with characters, narrator, point of view, the glass menagerie, theme, tom.

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  1. ms-mcgregor Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    There simply would be no play without Tom, the narrator, because, not only is he the narrator, he is also a character in the play, and supposedly the author of the it. As narrator, Tom can look both backward and forward and discuss the ramifications of events as they take place. As a character in the play, the audience can sympathize with his plight and see the family dynamics in action. As the supposed writer of the play, we have to realize that the play is told from Tom's memory so, in some cases, that memory may be hazy or unreliable. That leaves it up to the audience to watch the action carefully and to decipher the play's themes.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/glass-menagerie
    http://www.enotes.com/glass-menagerie/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/glass-menagerie/themes

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    Posted by ms-mcgregor on Sunday October 5, 2008 at 7:38 PM