Please, Please Don't Leave Me

(The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams)

Within Williams piece, a few distinct themes are developed among the characters and setting. From the listing of the characters and throughout the entire play, the impact and effects of the father's escape is evident. Laura, the mother, treats her children with persistent nagging and worries in fear of her husband's departure. More importantly, the "nail-less" escape has impacted Tom, who reflects his father's love of adventure and passion. This is displayed as Tom uses the fire escape only to enter/exit the house and refers to his father's leaving as a genius magic act. He is willing to destroy his family to join a union and fights constantly with his mother over his actions and books. The stage elements and directions also display this theme of departure/ the unseen force and character such as when the photo of the father was lit, a persistant grinning face. This family has been torn apart by this one action; the father is the most powerful and central character. This theme isn't unique to the family; the gentleman Jim also shows the effects of leaving as he cheats on his finance; this action is simple ripping this fictional world apart.