Symbolic illustration of Laura's hands holding a glass unicorn

The Glass Menagerie

by Tennessee Williams

Start Free Trial

Discussion Topic

Expressionism in The Glass Menagerie

Summary:

In The Glass Menagerie, expressionism is used to convey the emotional experiences of the characters rather than realistic depictions. Techniques like lighting, music, and symbolic imagery emphasize the internal states and memories, particularly those of Tom and Laura, creating a dream-like, subjective atmosphere that reflects the characters' struggles and desires.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What expressionistic techniques are used in The Glass Menagerie?

Expressionism is an artistic movement that emerged out of Europe in the early part of the twentieth century. The chief characteristic of expressionism is a rejection of realism. Expressionist philosophy held that art should not seek to imitate life, it must interpret it. And the means for doing this should reflect a movement from realism—utilizing nonlinear narratives, symbolism, and abstract ideas. Expressionistic art does not seek to represent the external world of objects but the subjective inner state of the artist.

In his production notes to The Glass MenagerieTennessee Williams explicitly states his debt to expressionism, describing it as "a closer approach to the truth." Expressionistic techniques are particularly useful in presenting those numerous autobiographical elements of the play based upon Williams's memories. When attempting to reenact memories it is not possible to divide them up neatly into acts. So in The Glass Menagerie Williams dispenses with acts...

Unlock
This Answer Now

Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.

Get 48 Hours Free Access

altogether, dividing the play into seven scenes. There is no real structure to memories, certainly not one that is amenable to conventional dramatic division. The expressionistic structure used by Williams frames the action much more effectively than the conventions of realism would allow.

Symbolism is another important expressionistic element in the play. At various points in The Glass Menagerie images and words are projected onto a screen onstage to highlight certain themes. An example of this comes in scene 2 when we see the image of blue roses being projected. "Blue Roses" is the name that Jim gives to Laura, a mispronunciation of "pleuroris," her crippling physical condition.

Expressionistic lighting is also used to great effect in The Glass Menagerie. As this is a memory play, the lighting is suitably dim, reflecting the dimness of memories. Light is often focused on characters who aren't at the center of the action. For instance, in the scene where Tom and Amanda are quarreling, the light is on Laura, even though she has no active part in what's happening on stage. The light that falls upon Laura is a pure light, a pristine light—one that makes her distinct from all the other characters, making her seem virginal, innocent, and saintly.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

How is "expressionism" demonstrated in The Glass Menagerie?

Another way that Tennessee Williams's play fits into the expressionist category is in its stage directions.

Throughout the play, the use of lighting and the screen help convey the emotions within the story in a particular scene.

For example, when Amanda reminisces about her days as a young woman with a plethora of gentleman callers, the stage directions include the following:

[IMAGE: AMANDA AS A GIRL ON PORCH GREETING CALLERS]
[Tom motions for music and a spot of light on AMANDA. Her eyes lift, her face glows, her voice becomes rich and elegiac].

These stage directions describe both the picture on the projection screen and the way Tom, as the narrator, directs the lighting toward his mother's face. The image is supposed to represent what is going on inside Amanda’s mind as she envisions her past, while the lighting is supposed to echo her emotional reaction to the memory. These techniques are used extensively throughout the play, emphasizing the emotions of the characters while also indicating that the story is a form of artifice derived from Tom's own memories.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Expressionism is a style of literature based on a narrative that explores the psychology and emotional foundation of the narrator, rather than the telling of facts.  It is similar to a stream of consciousness in that emotions and opinions are stronger than facts and details, but the narrative is not as different in style as it is with stream of consciousness.

The Glass Menagerie is an expressionist piece of literature because it depicts a specific situation using Tom's own emotions and opinions of it. We see in the end of the play how Tom compares his mother and his sister basically to a shadow play that will never cease to change. He characterizes Amanda and Laura, as well as Jim, as parts of the story of his life. It is through Tom's strong views and emotion that we can create an opinion of the rest of the characters. This is basically what makes The Glass Menagerie an example of expressionism.

Approved by eNotes Editorial