The Glass Menagerie : Quotations
The Glass Menagerie is a notable literary work by Tennessee Williams. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of The Glass Menagerie.
Quotations
I didn’t go to the moon, I went much further—for time is the longest distance between two places. (Tom Wingfield)
This reflective quote underscores the theme of memory and the emotional distance between Tom’s current life and his past life with his family.
Glass breaks so easily. No matter how careful you are. (Laura Wingfield)
This line reflects Laura’s fragility and the delicate balance of her emotional state. It emphasizes the vulnerability of dreams and illusions when faced with reality.
People go to the movies instead of moving! (Tom Wingfield)
Tom uses this line to criticize the escapist tendencies of people, including himself, who dream of different lives but do not take action to change their circumstances.
She lives in a world of her own—a world of—little glass ornaments, Mother. (Tom)
Tom is attempting to make his mother understand that Laura is peculiar compared to other girls. He is telling her that Laura lives in a world her imagination has created and prefers it to reality.
You live in a dream; you manufacture illusions! (Amanda)
Amanda says this to Tom when he explains he and Jim never exchanged personal information and thus did not know Jim was engaged. The statement demonstrates dramatic irony; although Tom may escape to a fantasy world at the movies, Amanda manufactures illusions far more than Tom. She has created the illusions of her girlhood with the constant displays of her old Southern charm. Amanda is unable to face reality.
I’m tired of the movies and I’m about to move! (Tom)
Tom is saying he wants to experience life and not live vicariously through fantasy.