LR

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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 || || || || ||=====

__A pair of silk stockings - - >__
** __QUESTION __: ** Look at the imagery describing the stockings as Mrs. Sommers touched them. Think about the allusion here. Does this change our view of Mrs. Sommers?
 * __ANSWER__: ** A mother is someone so selfless they take no moments to concentrate on themselves. Every day from the morning rise to the sunset, it’s all about their children, their needs, and what they want. When Mrs. Sommers fumbles across an unexpected $15 she initially thinks about her children, what they would want and what they would need. Yet, as she begins to shop, the allusion Chopin creates entices Mrs. Sommers to indulge for herself. It’s almost as if she is Eve in the Garden of Eden falling to temptation. Though Eve is tempted by satin and Mrs. Sommers is tempted by silk hosiery, the principle is the same. This does not at all change my view of Mrs. Sommers. Everyone deserves time for themselves once in a while. I actually feel a bit more sympathetic towards her, seeing as how she was always used to luxury. Now, she has given it all up for her family which is a very selfless thing to do. In my opinion being selfish once in a while, isn’t an unruly thing to do.

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__**QUESTION **__: Does Laura seem to be a weak or strong character? Does she arouse your sympathy, or do you think Williams wants you to dislike her? Explain. ======

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**__ANSWER__: ** How can someone be so strong yet, so weak? Laura comes off as a fragile character, one who could break at any moment, so it’s hard to believe she could possibly be tenacious at all. //The Glass Menagerie// seems as if it’s based around this idea though. Strength in weakness and bravery in fear. For example, throughout the play Laura remains infatuated with a collection of glass animals. She reiterates on how they glow in the light and are so beautiful, yet fragile and with the wrong breath could shatter. This collection, //The Glass Menagerie//, symbolizes Laura and the beauty that she has, yet the weakness that makes her delicate. All the while, she stays strong at being weak and knowing she is “crippled.” Accepting reality and the frail state she is in makes her just as strong and brave as any other. This idea doesn’t necessarily arouse my sympathy though. Laura knows nothing else but to be a strong weakling. She has never been “on top” like her mother; therefore she doesn’t struggle like others would. I don't think that Williams wants us to hate her but I do believe he protrays her in this way so that we are sympathic for her. ======

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Erica's Response: I definitely agree that Laura is a weak character. Like her glass menagerie, Laura is fragile and can easily be hurt and broken physically or in spirit. She surrounds her life around her collection of glass animals, isolating her from the outside world. When she even dares to step out into reality through the fire escape to go to the grocery, she slips. I am sympathetic to Laura because she’s so shy and is dependent on Tom and Amanda. I don’t think Williams wants us to dislike Laura because it’s not her fault that she’s crippled and she’s made out to be a beautiful character that needs reality in her life. ======

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 I think that Laura is a very shy and fragile person, and this is her down fall. I agree with the way you compared the glass menagerie to Laura the animals represent her in almost every way. Good job! – Hunter S. ======