The Life of Tennessee Williams As Portrayed in The Glass Menagerie Jennifer M Kassis College

Using inspiration from one’s own personal life experiences is no foreign technique to writers of the past as well as the modern day. Most writers do what that they do because of the trials and tribulations that they have faced in their lives, and their struggles are expressed through their work. With that being said, the stories inspired by a writer’s real life are some of the most genuine and authentic pieces of work. By appealing to the audience’s emotions, a writer can pull readers in by the familiarity of the characters in their stories. Tennessee Williams, one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century, displayed this kind of personal reflection in his play, The Glass Menagerie. Tom, Laura, and Amanda are all characters from the play who represent real people from Williams’ life. Tom represents Williams himself – a young writer trying to discover his own path, Amanda represents his eccentric mother, and Laura represents Williams’ timid and fragile sister Rose.

In The Glass Menagerie, the main character, Tom, represents Tennessee Williams himself – whose real name is in fact, Tom. There are many similarities between the character and Williams’ real life, and there are also aspects of the play that are...