HS

 LENNIE What does he or she look like? || Big guy, gentle giant || || ||  || Basic psychological characteristics || Slow, mentally disabled || ||  ||  || How does he or she talk? || He talks slowly and kind of dumb…he always talks about the farm he and George want and the rabbits || || ||  ||  What does he or she want? || A place where they can live off the land and have their own property where they can live in piece || || ||  ||  How does he or she get what he or she wants?>  || George helps him do everything and feels bad for him || || ||  || **What does he do when faced with problems? ** || He turns to George || || ||  || **What is his emotional state? ** || Usually happy like a small child || || ||  || **What is his emotional state? ** || Same as above || || ||  || **What do other characters say about him? ** || He’s retarded || || ||  || **What does he represent? ** || He represents the good and innocence in people…also a gentle giant || || ||  || **What is his station in life? ** || He is a migrant worker along with George || || ||  || **What is expected from him? ** || Hard work and to make money || || ||  || **What does he expect from life? ** || Not much… his little farm with George and to take care of the rabbits || || ||  || **Additional information ** |||||||| Gorge kills Lennie in the end of the book out of love rather than their boss killing him out of anger and hatred || http://www.fa.mtu.edu/~dlbruch/scriptanalysis/charex.html

Question: What character traits contributed to the circumscription of Mrs. Sommers? Answer: The circumscription of Mrs. Sommers was led to by the fact that she was once an upper-class person. She saw others with things that she didn’t have any more and dreamt of knowing how that felt again. Just to have those silk stalking like all the upper-class women she once was.

............................................................................................................................... 3. A complex character is both weak and strong. Is Laura a complex character? Does she arouse your sympathy, or do you think Williams wants you to dislike her? Explain. I believe that Laura is an extremely weak person, and her complexity is only due to her inability to express herself. Laura is a flat character who doesn’t chance much throughout the story. She is very shy, and this reflects on the lifestyle she lives. She dropped out of high school and business school, not to mention that she still hasn’t found a boy friend or any real “Gentlemen callers”. To some this may arouse their sympathy, but I don’t feel bad for her because she needs to get over being shy like everyone else has. This obstacle in her life has caused her to miss out on a lot of things and experiences. If she can’t build up the courage to get over that, then I don’t feel bad for her. I don’t think that Williams necessarily wants us to feel bad for her but he for sure doesn’t portray her as someone we can look up to.

TL: I agree the reason she is so weak is because she has no confidence and no way to express herself.

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Lauren: Very good hunty! I really like your word choice and the way that you organized your opinion. I agree with the way you think of Laura and how she needs to overcome her shyness. She is missing out on life and for this reason when approached with opportunites doesn't know how to take them on.======

Erica's Response: I don't believe Laura is a complex person because I don't see in any aspect how she's strong. She's inable to stand up to her demanding, controlling mother and can't do much by herself. Laura can barely go back to reality without being hurt by what's really going outside of her "glass world." I agree that she needs to gain some confidence, which would solve her shyness problem. Williams doesn't want us to dislike Laura because it's not her fault she's crippled and has become insecure.

Glenn: I agree with Erica. Laura is not a complex person. She is a very flat character. I do agree with the fact that she needs to come out of her shell and become an outgoing person.

ZD: Laura is not a complex character. The story is not about her at all. The same goes for Amanda. Laura is only a variable in the equation that leads Tom to leave. I have always thought that this story was written as basically a way for TW to redeem hisself. He makes you dislike Laura (or pity) and Amanda so that people will read his story and say "I would have left too." This makes Laura a simple character with only weak and pity incurring traits.

I agree when you say that Williams doesnt want us to look up to her but use her as an example of someone who is too afraid to take risks. This is represented well by her "glass menagerie" because they are fragile as is she. I also agree that she is complex in that she is difficult to understand at times by other people, not by readers, because she won't come out of her box. - Gavin Engert

I agree with this because she is very weak because she can’t express herself at all, and she is really shy. I don’t feel bad for her either since whatever she does leads back to her. I agree that she needs to be more outgoing. - Kevin MacMunn