The Glass Menagerie #6

The physical effects of the play, namely the lighting, screen, and music, help to show that this play is a memory play. One time in the play when the father was mentioned his picture lighted up and it showed that while he is not present in their daily lives, he is still a big part of the family. He is absent, but Amanda thinks about him often and is adamant that her son will not turn out like his father, even though she drives him off. Another thing is the see-through screen. This helps create a fourth wall so it is more realistic, but also enforces the dream-like nature of the play. It creates a boundary between Tom the narrator and Tom the character. Finally, the music is important because it signals when something important is happening and when the menagerie is referenced. Laura is compared to the figurines because they are delicate and beautiful, but can be broken easily, like her. The events that are characterized especially by the music and lighting are the ones that contain reasons for Tom's departure and show the themes of the play.