TomTom

#8. The narration of The Glass Menagerie was very different than typical plays. Tom, a character in the play, was also a narrator. Tom describes background information that is useful to the audience. When the scene unfolds, the audience is prepared for what is going to occur. What is so unique about this play is that Tom describes it as his own memories- however there are instances in which Tom is not present. For example, When Jim O'Connor comes to the Wingfield home, Jim and Laura are alone in the living room (almost the entire scene 7). If this play was actually composed of Tom's memories, this scene probably would not have been included. I thought this aspect made the storyline seem a bit unrealistic. The play comes from the point of view of Tom, yet the audience knows almost nothing about him. The audience knows a great deal about Laura and Amanda, yet Tom's life is still a mystery. I think this narration makes the play seem unrealistic / non realistic (I still don't fully understand the difference between the two).