What is ‘Peculiar’ about Laura?

Answer

What is ‘Peculiar’ about Laura? [2020] ✪✪✪   

In “The Glass Menagerie” (1944) by Tennessee Williams (1911–1983), Laura Wingfield is described as “peculiar” because she is distinct from ordinary people. Her physical weakness, emotional softness, and dreamlike nature make her unique. She lives in a world that is beautiful but fragile, like her glass animals.   

Her Physical Disability: Laura has a limp caused by a childhood illness. Because of it, she walks slowly and feels shy. She avoids people and hides from the outside world. Amanda, her mother, worries about her because she cannot mix with others. Her body’s weakness makes her mentally insecure and lonely. 

Her Emotional Fragility: Laura is very gentle and sensitive. Even small troubles hurt her deeply. Tom, her brother, says in Scene 5,

“She lives in a world of her own—a world of little glass ornaments, Mother.” 

This line shows her delicate nature. Laura’s heart is as soft as her glass toys. She prefers silence, music, and her small glass friends to real people. Her feelings are pure but easily broken. 

Her Fear of Reality: Laura is afraid of real life. She leaves business college because she is too nervous. She hides from visitors and cannot speak freely. When Jim, the gentleman caller, comes, she becomes scared but also curious. When he breaks her glass unicorn, she says in Scene 7,

“Now he will feel more at home with the other horses.” 

This line shows her acceptance and sadness. Her broken unicorn is like her broken dream.

Her World of Illusion: Laura lives in illusion. She escapes from pain through her glass toys and music. Like her glass menagerie, her life shines softly but cannot survive real touch. Her peculiarity lies in her beauty, weakness, and innocence.

In Conclusion, Laura is peculiar because she is pure, fragile, and different. Her limp, shyness, and dream world make her both lovely and tragic. Tennessee Williams shows