Matt Goldstein Prof. Jones Scenography 15 February 2016 Glass Menagerie: Script Analysis WHERE What does the author list in the stage directions? •
he e!act e!act opening stage directions directions are are as follo"s# $he %ing&eld apart'ent is in the rear of the building( one of those )ast hi)e*li+e conglo'erations of cellular li)ing*units that ,o"er as "arty gro"ths in o)ercro"ded urban centers of lo"er 'iddle*class population and are sy'pto'atic of the i'pulse of this largest and funda'entally ensla)ed section of -'erican society to a)oid ,uidity and dierentiation and to e!ist and function as one interfused 'ass of auto'atis' he apart'ent apart'ent faces an alley alley and is is entered by a &re* &re* escape( a structure "hose na'e is a touch of accidental poetic truth( for all of these huge buildings are al"ays burning "ith the slo" and i'placable &res of hu'an desperation. he &re*escape is included in the set * that is( the landing of it and steps descending fro' it. he scene is 'e'ory 'e'ory and is is therefore therefore non*realisti non*realistic. c. Me'ory ta+es a lot of poetic license. /t o'its so'e details others are e!aggerated( according to the e'otional )alue of the articles it touches( for 'e'ory is seated predo'inantly in the heart. he interior is therefore rather di' and poetic. -t the rise of the curtain( the audience is faced "ith the dar+( gri' rear "all of the %ing&eld tene'ent. his building( "hich runs parallel to the footlights( is ,an+ed on both sides by dar+( narro" alleys "hich run into 'ur+y canyons of tangled clothes*lines( garbage cans( and the sinister lattice*"or+ of neighbouring &re*escapes. /t is up and do"n these alleys that e!terior entrances and e!its are 'ade( during the play. -t the end of o's opening co''entary( the dar+ tene'ent "all slo"ly re)eals by 'eans of a transparency3 the interior of the ground ,oor %ing&eld apart'ent. 4o"nstage is the li)ing*roo'( "hich also ser)es as a sleeping*roo' for aura( the sofa is unfolding to 'a+e her bed. pstage( centre( and di)ided by a "ide arch or second prosceniu' "ith transparent faded porti7res or second curtain3( is the dining*roo'. /n an old fashioned "hat*not in the li)ing* roo' are seen scores of transparent glass ani'als. - blo"n*up
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photograph of the father hangs on the "all of the li)ing*roo'( facing the audience( to the left of the arch"ay. /t is the face of a )ery handso'e young 'an in a doughboys First %orld %ar cap. 8e is gallantly s'iling( ineluctably s'iling( as if to say / "ill be s'iling fore)er. -lso hanging on the "all( near the photograph( are a type"riter +eyboard chart and a Gregg shorthand diagra'. -n upright type"riter on a s'all table stands beneath the charts. he audience hears and sees the opening scene in the dining*roo' through both the transparent fourth "all of the building and the transparent gau9e porti7res of the dining*roo' arch. /t is during this re)ealing scene that the fourth "all slo"ly ascends out of sight. his transparent e!terior "all is not brought do"n again until the )ery end of the play( during o's &nal speech. 213 $:eing a 'e'ory play( it is di'ly lighted( it is senti'ental( it is not realistic.; /n 4ining roo'( $-'anda and aura are seated at a drop*leaf table.
3 She slo"ly lets herself in the door. 2>3 ? /s this a door( or "indo" leading to a &re escape@ 8ea)y annual yearboo+ on the cla"foot table3. -'anda enters "ith the telephone on a long e!tension cord AB3 he dining*roo' area is lit "ith a turgid s'o+y red glo". - "ild disarray of 'anuscripts on the type"riter table. he glass 'enagerie. aura clings to the 'antel. - deep*)oiced bell in a church nearby tolls the hour. aura notices that o'Cs bed is e'pty ==3 -lar' cloc+ =63 $facing the "indo" on the gloo'y grey )ault of the area"ay. /ts light on her face is cruelly sharp.; =D3 o'Cs coat is ugly and bul+y. 8e pulls on a cap "ith ear'us. 5A3 %ool 'uEer that he snatches fro' the closet. he dining roo'( "hich is shado"y 563 She opens the screen door 653 8e glances at hi'self in the 'irror. 663 e" ,oor la'p "ith sil+ shade. olored paper lantern conceals bro+en light &!ture in the ceiling. e" billo"ing "hite curtains. hint9 co)ers on the chairs and sofa. Pair of ne" sofa pillo"s. ong 'irror. D13
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:o"l on the table. 4oorbell rings D=3 Fire*escape door. DD3 it by the incandescent 'arHuees and signs of the &rst*run 'o)ie houses nearby for' the &re escape. DB3 8ead resting on a pale blue pillo". B53 e" ,oor la'p ahs shade of rose*colored sil+ glo)es gi)es a soft( beco'ing light B53 he lights in both roo's ,ic+er and go out. B53 Music fro' the Paradise 4ance 8all across the alley. Pitcher of fruit punch and a plate "ith a gold border.
Various Projections (!ages and legends" egend on screen $Iu sont les neiges; 2=3 "here is the sno"3 /'age on screen# $-'anda as a girl on a porch( greeting callers.; 263 Screen i'age ? a s"ar' of type"riters A13 Screen i'age ? "inter scene in a par+ AA3 egend on screen $he crust of hu'ility; AA3 Screen i'age ? i' as the high school hero bearing a sil)er cup. Screen i'age ? blue roses egend on screen $after the &asco; Screen i'age ? a young 'an at the door of a house "ith ,o"ers Screen i'age ? the co)er of a gla'our 'aga9ine Screen i'age ? $you thin+ /C' in lo)e "ith ontinental Shoe'a+ers@; Screen legend ? he Glass Menagerie egend on screen ? $aura; 503 /'age on screen ? $- sailing )essel "ith Jolly Koger; 513 Screen legend $Plans and pro)isions; 523 egend on the screen $annunciation; /'age ? a caller "ith a bouHuet Screen i'age ? the cler+ egend on screen $the accent of a co'ing foot; egend on screen# a pretty trap. egend on screen# his is 'y sister# celebrate her "ith stringsL D13 egend on screen# $ot Ji'L; D23 egend on screen# $terrorL; D=3 • •
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/'age on screen# e!ecuti)e at his des+ Screen legend# $-hL; egend# $Suspension of a public ser)ice; egend# $8aL; egend# $/ donCt suppose you re'e'ber 'e at all;. egend# $%hat ha)e you done since high school@; /'age on screen# blue roses egend# $a sou)enir; ? after the +iss egend# $hings ha)e a "ay of turning out so badlyL Ir i'age# Gentle'an caller "a)ing goodbye ? gailyL; egend# $he s+y falls;
What do the characters say a#out $here they are? o' refers to the apart'ent as $this t"o*by*four situation; =53( li+ens it to a con. his place is cra'pedL o' constantly feels stuc+ and con&ned by his li)ing situation. hings 'ust be in )ery close Huarters for hi' to feel so suocated. -'anda calls it a pigsty( sloppy. /n order to 'a+e it presentable for a gentle'an caller( she 'ust polish the "edding sil)er( launder the 'onogra''ed table linen( and by a host of ne" furnishings. auraCs Glass Menagerie shel)es are not a co'pletely pri)ate space( although her ti'e "ith the 'enagerie is pri)ate. She says that the trac of people "al+ing by often sha+es the shel)es and causes glass pieces to brea+. •
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Ho$ does each character %eel a#out the place they are in? -'anda feels at ho'e in the apart'ent( but is e'barrassed of its shoddy condition and its re,ection on their socio*econo'ic status. She &nds it to be run*do"n and not re,ecti)e of her high* class self*perception( a re'nant fro' her days in the South. She insists on 'a+ing it loo+ nicer before allo"ing a gentle'an caller to step foot in itL aura uses the apart'ent to hide fro' the "orld( only lea)ing it e!cept to ta+e "al+s around the city. he 'ost i'portant part of the apart'ent to her is her glass 'enagerie. o' feels trapped by the apart'ent and yearns to tra)el and ad)enture( to 'a+e so'ething of his life. 8e resents his 'other for being o)erbearing( and "ants to escape this tiny apart'ent in search of the open sea. Ji' 'isses his high school glory days( but is not hopeless about his current situation and setting ? 'erely disappointed. 8e see's •
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neither udg'ental of the %ing&eld ho'e( nor particularly enraptured by it. Su!!ary: he play ta+es place in the Saint ouis( Missouri( in the nited States( in the %ing&eld fa'ilyCs cra'ped apart'ent building. his building has t"o )isible roo's( a li)ing roo' in "hich aura sleeps3 and a dining roo'( "hich is connected presu'ably to other bedroo's and a bathroo'.
WHE& What does the author list in the stage directions? $he %ing&eld apart'ent is in the rear of the building( one of those )ast hi)e*li+e conglo'erations of cellular li)ing*units that ,o"er as "arty gro"ths in o)ercro"ded urban centers of lo"er 'iddle*class population and are sy'pto'atic of the i'pulse of this largest and funda'entally ensla)ed section of -'erican society to a)oid ,uidity and dierentiation and to e!ist and function as one interfused 'ass of auto'atis'.; •
What do the characters say a#out the ti!e? o'# $o begin "ith( / turn bar+ ti'e. / re)erse it to that Huaint period( the thirties( "hen the huge 'iddle class of -'erica "as 'atriculating in a school for the blind. heir eyes had failed the' or they had failed their eyes( and so they "ere ha)ing their &ngers pressed forcibly do"n on the &ery :raille alphabet of a dissol)ing econo'y.; o'# $/n Spain there "as re)olution. 8ere there "as only shouting and confusion. /n Spain there "as Guernica. 8ere there "ere disturbances of labour( so'eti'es pretty )iolent( in other"ise peaceful cities such as hicago( le)eland( Saint ouis. . . . his is the social bac+ground of the play.; 2A3 o'# $he play is 'e'ory.; •
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-'anda $%hy( / re'e'ber one ti'e in :lue Mountain; in response to thought of gentle'an callers 253. Kecei)ed 1D gentle'an callers. ses "ord $nigger;.
What do the character $ear that i!plies ti!e? aura "ears a dress of soft )iolet 'aterial for a +i'ono ? her hair is tied bac+ "ith a ribbon. %ashing and polishing her collection of glass. 2>3 -'anda has on cheap or i'itation )el)ety*loo+ing cloth coats "ith i'itation fur collar. 8at is &)e or si! years old( one of those dreadful loche hats "orn in the t"enties. lutching an enor'ous blac+ patent*leather poc+etboo+ "ith nic+el clasps and initials. his is her full*dress out&t( the one she usually "ears to the 4.-.K. -lso "earing glo)es. 4ainty "hite han+erchief. -'andaCs hair is in curlers( "earing a )ery old bathrobe( 'uch too large for her slight &gure( a relic of the faithless Mr. %ing&eld. =03 o' has an o)ercoat( a bul+y gar'ent( he splits the shoulder of it "hen it gets stuc+. aura pulls on a shapeless hat. he coat is one of -'andaC( inaccurately 'ade o)er( the slee)es too short for aura. =D3 o'Cs coat is ugly and bul+y. 8e pulls on a cap "ith ear'us. 5A3 %ool 'uEer that he snatches fro' the closet. -'anda and aura( in light*colored dresses 563 o'( in "hite shirt and trousers aura ? a ne" dress. She is li+e a piece of translucent glass touched by light( gi)en a 'o'entary radiance( not actual( not lasting. 6>3 auraCs boso' stued "ith t"o po"der pus "rapped in han+erchiefs. D03 -'anda "ears a girlish froc+ of yello"ed )oile "ith a blue sil+ sash. She carries a bunch of onHuils ? the legend of her youth is nearly re)i)ed. D13 She "ore this dress all throughout her youth( the day she 'et their father. •
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'er $hat ti!e%ra!e does the play occur? he play begins in February it is reference that( in January 6 "ee+s prior to scene 2( aura enrolled in her business classes3. :y the end of the play( spring is said to be arri)ing. hus( the action of the play li+ely ta+es place o)er the course of a 'onth or so. ennessee %illia's 'a+es it very clear that the play is a 'e'ory play( and o' e)en says $the play is 'e'ory.; <)erything that happened in the play has happened in the past( and the telling of •
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this story is through the 'ist and 'ystery of 'e'ory. hus( ti'e and space are so'e"hat shifted and stretched. Su!!ary: he play ta+es place in the late 1>A0Cs( after the great depression and Golden 20Cs. he action that "e see ta+es place fro' February to March or -pril. Why did the play$right choose this ti!e period? he late A0Cs "ere a ti'e "hen 'any people "ere loo+ing bac+"ard "ith longing at the glori&ed pre*depression days. he Great 4epression "as a ti'e of such suering and sadness( and 'any 'iddle and lo"er*class -'ericans "ere unable to 'o)e past the idea of the life they had led or could ha)e led if not for the depression. his ties in beautifully "ith the 'indsets and obsessions of the playCs characters.
)E*'RE +haracters, Words: o'# here is a &fth character in the play "ho doesnt appear e!cept in this larger*than*life*si9e photograph o)er the 'antel. his is our father "ho left us a long ti'e ago.8e "as a telephone 'an "ho fell in lo)e "ith long distances he ga)e up his ob "ith the telephone co'pany and s+ipped the light fantastic out of to"n. . . .he last "e heard of hi' "as a picture postcard fro' Ma9atlan( on the Paci&c coast of Me!ico( containing a 'essage of t"o "ords * 8ello * Good*byeL and no address. 2A3 -'anda# $%hy( / re'e'ber one ti'e in :lue Mountain; in response to thought of gentle'an callers 253. 8as told this story 'ore than once. Kecei)ed 1D gentle'an callers. ses "ord $nigger;. $Girls in those days knew ho" to tal+; 263. Pro'inent young planters of the Mississippi. aura "as supposedly going to typing classes e)ery day at Kubica'Cs :usiness ollege since January( si! "ee+s ago. aura N the shy girl "ho dropped out after 2 days attendance. %asted O50( $all our plans;. hre" up on the ,oor( so ner)ous at &rst typing e!a'. $%hen / had that attac+ of pleurosis; A53 aura $/C' ? crippled.; -'anda $/C)e told you ne)er to use that "ord. Just a little defect( hardly noticeableL; A53 Just de)elop other s+ills li+e char'. Qour father had plenty of char'. Ji' 8-4 tre'endous /rish good nature( )itality( "ith the scrubbed and polished loo+ of "hite china"are. ontinual spotlight. :as+etball star( debate club( glee club( operas. 4e&ed gra)ity. •
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<)eryone thought he "ouldnCt stop until reaching the %hite house. ost speed after high school. o" in the sa'e le)el ob as o'. hey had chorus class together( she had a brace on her leg( she "as so e'barrassed "inces at the 'e'ory3. ;o 'e it sounded li+e thunder.; %as out of school for a bit >A3 e)er had 'uch luc+ at 'a+ing friends.
)e%ore the Play: -'anda ? /n her youth( -'anda had courted 'any 'en( and i'agined her future "ith all sorts of rich young suitors. 8o"e)er( the 'an "ho e)entually char'ed her turned out to be a drun+ and a "anderer( and he abandoned her and her children to tra)el to Me!ico. She has spent her "hole life longing for her youth and proecting her desire to &nd a gentle'an suitor onto her daughter. She has enrolled aura in business classes to try and ensure that she is an attracti)e and capable young "o'an( and she depends on o' to bring ho'e 'oney and pay the bills. She has refused to let aura refer to herself as a cripple. o' ? Kesents his fa'ily for relying on hi'( and yearns to tra)el and ad)enture. 8e "or+s at ontinental Shoe'a+ers and 'a+es O65 a 'onth. 8e hates his ob( and li+es to "rite poetry instead. 8e didnCt ha)e 'any friends at his "or+place until he 'et Ji'. 8e has heard his 'otherCs stories o)er and o)er and is tired of li)ing his droll day*to*day life. aura ? 8ad pleurosis as a child and had to "ear a leg brace. his caused her to be incredibly self*conscious and e'barrassed( and she is no" cripplingly shy and a"+"ard around strangers( especially 'en. She has only e)er had a crush on one boy ? Ji'( the high school hero. She got so ner)ous "hen enrolled in her business classes that she )o'ited and Huit the classes( but has been lying to her 'other about ha)ing Huit. <)ery day( she lea)es and goes for "al+s around the city instead of attending class. Ji' ? %as the hero of his high school days ? attracti)e( popular( a bas+etball star( debate club 'e'ber( star of the school operas( 'e'ber of glee club( etc. People thought he "as going to do incredible things. 8o"e)er( after high school( things did not turn out as grand( and he is no" "or+ing at the shoe "arehouse "ith o'. 8e 'isses his glory days( and is grateful for anyone or anything that 'a+es hi' feel as big as he did then. 8e isnCt happy "ith "here he is in life( but has not gi)en up hope that his life "ill i'pro)e. •
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WHA- HAPPE&S What is the cli!a.? o'Cs cli'a! is the 'o'ent "hen he ad'its to his fa'ily that he has spent the lighting bill 'oney on a 'e'bership to the nion of Merchant Sea'en( to pursue his drea's of ad)enture and tra)el. 8e &nally chooses his o"n desires o)er his responsibility to his fa'ily( and -'anda is aghast. -fter bringing aura out of her shell( brea+ing her glass unicorn( and then +issing her( Ji' has 'ade aura feel a gli''er of hope that she 'ight e!perience lo)e not be doo'ed to a shy( a"+"ard life of loneliness. hen( Ji' ad'its that he is engaged( and abruptly lea)es after aura heartbro+enly gi)es hi' the bro+en unicorn as a sou)enir. What are the !ajor the!es? Me'oryRi)ing in the Past ? he "hole play told as a 'e'ory play( a re,ection on past e)ents told by o' through a lens of e!pressionis'. Si'ilarly( each of the characters is li)ing in 'e'ory ? stuc+ in so'e aspect of their past li)es and unable to 'o)e for"ard. he characters cannot accept reality( so they are li)ing in a sub*reality ? a reality that is half present and half past. his half*reality is sho"n by the for'at of the storytelling ? by using i'agery( 'usic( and sy'bolis'( %illia's tells the story in a half*naturalistic half*constructed 'anner that 'irrors the story. Fragility ? aura and her glass 'enagerie are frail( delicate( and easily brea+able. aura is brought up slightly by Ji' at the cli'a! of the play( only to be carelessly tossed aside and shattered li+e one of her glass ani'als. 4esertion ? -'anda is deserted by Mr. %ing&eld( aura is deserted by Ji'( and o' deserts his fa'ily.
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What is the at!osphere surrounding the story? he at'osphere of this play is shado"y and cra'ped( dull and stagnant. ighting is di' and 'oody. hings 'o)e slo"ly( and "here there are beautiful things( they are cheap and co)er up slo" decay underneath. here is a sense of "aiting that lasts for the length of the play ? "aiting for the co'ing or the return of things that ne)er co'e. •
-HE )G P+-/RE General 0escription:
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he %ing&eldCs apart'ent is located in a St. ouis alley"ay( tuc+ed a"ay fro' the light of day "ith only the lights of nearby ,uorescent signs to bring it a hollo"( surreal glo". he apart'ent consists of t"o )isible roo's( a dining roo' and a li)ing roo'( and each is con&ned( cra'ped( cro"ded( and di'. he li)ing roo' has a s'all table and a sofa that ser)es as auraCs bed( "hile the dining roo' has a dining table and a couple of chairs. Ither roo's are present but unseen. he air feels "ar' and stic+y and still. he only entrance escape3 fro' this apart'ent is through ric+ety 'etal &re escape that descends into the alley belo". he apart'ent is full of 'e'ory( 'ade of 'e'ory( and e)ery picture on the "all( e)ery piece of furniture( e)ery plate( pushes the characters out of the present and into the past.
+oncept: :ecause the play is told as a 'e'ory and features characters that are &!ed in the past( it is i'perati)e that the design feel li+e a 'e'ory( a thing of the past( surreal and drea'li+e( a space that has spiraled into so'ething larger than itself o)er the course of ti'e. his 'e'ory should also feel fragile( li+e aura and her collection of glass ani'als( as if the "hole apart'ent or the 'e'ory of the apart'ent3 could collapse if a strong gust of "ind ca'e by. he house should feel li+e a delicate( dar+ "eb spun of thoughts and drea's and pasts that catches all "ho hope to escape in its da'p clutches. •
