The Family as the Glass Menagerie

Tennessee Williams uses symbolism a large amount in The Glass Menagerie.  While the glass symbolizes Laura's paralyzing social standing, it also symbolizes the family's structure.  The family originally seemed to be an average family with normal problems, but upon further examination, it is quite the opposite.  Amanda is constantly nagging her child in an attempt to prevent them from making the same mistakes she did, but this only drives them away from her.  The atmosphere of the house is always full of tension, as Amanda and Tom seem to be ready to fight at any moment.  Laura's inability to function as an adult on a social level simply frustrates the other two, which only adds more tension.  Tom's father also proved to be a large contributor to the delicate nature of the family.  Tom tortured Amanda by going out and drinking every night  and constantly threatening to leave, like his father did.  Tom ultimately decides to leave the family, but discovered he cared for them more then he thought, "Oh, Laura, Laura, I tried to leave you behind me, but I am more faithful than I intended to be!" (Williams, 1289).  This family took a situation that was unfortunate, and instead of making it better, seemed to look for ways to make it worse.  They tore each other apart emotionally  and retrospectively could not possibly hope to exist as a functional family.