HF

Question: find the definition of tragedy. Is //The Glass Menagerie// a tradegy? explain  Tragedy: a dramatic composition, often in verse, dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of character or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or society, to downfall or destruction. In the play //__The Glass Menagerie__// there are a lot of things going on in the play. Tom is aggravated and not happy, because his mother was always getting on to him. Laura feels like she is different and she can’t accomplish anything, on top of that her mother doesn’t understand why she doesn’t have a gentlemen caller. Amanda is always on her children because she is alone, when her husband left her she had no one else but her kids. With Laura her tragedy was when the guy she loved in high school came over and had dinner, when he realized that he was a gentlemen caller. At that point he told Laura that he was engaged to be married, she was devastated. As the play went on Tom and Amanda got in a lot of fights which made Tom leave to go to the “movies”, Amanda really didn’t understand why he went to the movies so much. Tom wanted to go to the movie because he needed to get out of reality. As the play went on the fighting got worse and Tom couldn’t handle it anymore, so he left. This part in the play was a tragedy because his mom and sister have nothing because he supported them, and he feels bad for the fact that he left his sister alone. He loved her so much and didn’t want her to turn into her mom. So at the end when he was talking he was saying how he was still unhappy because he left Laura behind. I feel that when Jim told Laura he was married that was a tragedy and when Tom actually left that was a Tragedy also. JTS: I like this question. I also feel that the story reveals a tragedy. When I read the definition, I immediatly thought of Tom. He seems to be a person destined for greatness, but his flaw is his situation. I don't fell like the ending is tragic. I think it is Tom overcoming the force that is holding him down. That is not tragic at all.

TL: I agree with your answer because Tom always loved his sister so without Laura in his life I think he will always be unhappy.

I agree with this response because Tom was always afraid of what was going to happen to his sister and when he left he couldn’t stop thinking about her. **Josh Spence

HF: Please read the definition carefully and apply all parts of the definition to the play. What is the theme? Who is the great person? What is the character flaw? What is the overpowering force? These answers require more thought and development. Mrs. S** RF: I agree with the fact that Tom has always loved Laura and he wants what is best for her. Even if that means putting off his dreams to support Laura.

I agree with the parts of The Glass Menagerie you classified as tradegy, but I think if you emphasized on why they were tradegies a bit more your response will be solid. -Gavin Engert