Breaking Out

My main issue with Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" lies in attempting to decide Laura's fate at the conclusion of the play. Obviously, the opening up and subsequent re-closing of herself to Jim causes a change of some sort within her. Williams, however, is unclear as to if this experience brings Laura to a maturation and a bit of confidence and strength, or if it causes her to seclude herself even more into her glass menagerie. Personally, I believe that Laura will become at least partially independent. This choice to accept her fate and take charge is reflected in her giving the glass unicorn to Jim. The unicorn symbolized her own feeling of being "freakish" (p 1283). When Jim accidentally breaks it, Laura is surprisingly at peace with it; Jim, a representation of reality and acceptance of oneself, breaks the unicorn, who is symbolic of Laura's own feeling of inferiority and her use of her physical condition to excuse her inability to make proper connections. Now, however, she accepts that her excuse is gone, leaving her just like everyone else. While Tom may remain plagued by guilt for leaving Laura and Amanda, Williams indicates that Laura will do just fine without him.