Break the Ice (Or Glass in This Case)

In The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, one of the blatant symbols is the glass menagerie. Williams states the symbolic meaning of the glass menagerie in the character description of Laura: "Laura's separation increases till she is like a piece of her own glass collection, too exquisitely fragile to move from the shelf." (Williams, 1234). Its meaning continues on further though. The glass collection represents the small comfort zone that every person has. Laura's comfort zone was threatened by the introduction of Jim O'Connor. While they were having fun, the horn of Laura's unicorn breaks off. This incident symbolizes Laura's slow and temporary transgression out of her comfort zone and it represents how her crippled leg has no effect on other people. For a moment, Laura was feeling happy even though she was spending time with a stranger. When she acted in a way that was outside her comfort zone, no one noticed she was a cripple. To Jim, she appeared vibrant and lively. In addition, Tom broke his glass at the end of the play and left his family. He left his comfort zone and safe habitat. He decided to brave the unknown and it seems to have been successful for him. What Williams wants to convey is that we need to break out of the glass menagerie that holds every person, so that we may have a good and successful life.