The Glass Menagerie Group

Question:

wwzwlmd
wwzwlmd
Student
High School - 10th Grade

In "The Glass Menagerie," what do the candles symbolize?

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Posted by wwzwlmd on Monday October 6, 2008 at 10:35 AM and tagged with candles, characters, plot, symbolism, the glass menagerie, themes.

Answers:


  1. playsthething Teacher
    High School - 9th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    There are several ways of looking at the candles.  First, they establish a more muted tone - you might even call it romantic.  That less harsh light perhaps allows Laura to be more open with Jim; it gives her courage.  That might lead to an interpretation that the candles symbolize hope.  Hope that Laura might be able to connect with Jim, hope that Amanda's dream of a Gentleman Caller providing a future for Laura, hope that if Laura is taken care of, Tom will be able to strike out on his own and leave the shoe warehouse, etc.  

    It makes Tom's final line more heart-breaking - "blow out your candles, Laura."  There is ultimately no hope for this socially and physically (at least in her mind) handicapped young woman.  There is no place in our society for such a misfit.

    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 playsthething on Monday October 6, 2008 at 11:30 AM

  2. pmiranda2857
    pmiranda2857 Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The author uses light and darkness to symbolize and to emphasize the dramatic moments of the play.  The desperation and highly charged emotions in this play are linked to the symbolism of the light getting dim or going dark just like the status of the unstable Wingfields. 

    The candles are the final stage before the lights go out completely.  Candles are a primitive form of light, just like the primal need that Amanda has to find her daughter a husband.   

    The candles are a way for the audience to understand that soon all will go dark.  Easily blown out, the candles provide a very temporary moment of light, when Laura shares a tender moment with Jim, before her hopes and dreams are extinguished.

    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 pmiranda2857 on Monday October 6, 2008 at 3:19 PM