The Glass Menagerie vs. Ah Wilderness Essay

Chanel VanDyke
Professor Knippling
English Comp (TR/ 9:30)
14 March 2013
Ah Wilderness vs. The Glass Menagerie “Ah, Wilderness” and “The Glass Menagerie” are two of the worlds greatest written plays of all time. Each play takes us on a different journey of life in the lives of two different families. The audience is able to see the up’s and down’s of family life in a whole new light. Although there are many differences in each of the plays, they both bring a new perspective on the struggles and hardships, but also the love and laughs that every family experiences.
Throughout Ah, Wilderness, the audience was able to see the different relationships play out through each character. The play is focused on the 17 year old, deeply passionate Richard Miller. His love for reading, freedom, and independence causes tension throughout the play and we are able to see his relationship with his father progress. Although they got into many arguments, the audience could see that their love for one another and family was all that mattered in the end. His father, Nat, loved to be in the middle of confrontation but he always knew how to forgive when he was wrong. He stuck up for his family when anyone tried to bring harm or lies to them. In Act 2, Scene 1 he calls Muriel’s dad a liar because he tries to accuse Richard of being a dirty man. In the end, Richard sees that he and his family have more in common than what he thought. He and Nat’s relationship has its problems but in the end they always find a way to settle their differences because they are family.
In the Glass Menagerie, Tom and Amanda’s relationship is very hostile most of the time. The audience can see that Tom is trying his best to provide for his family and pay the bills but Amanda does not understand or seem to appreciate his efforts.. Amanda just nags at him constantly and does not allow him to do the things he enjoys. She takes away his books and tells him that he is selfish and only thinks of himself. We can see that he is trying to provide for his family because of he and Laura’s absent father. His goal is to escape the life he is now living and move up in the world. Although the audience can tell that Tom loves his mother and sister, he is sometimes disrespectful to them. Amanda is a “Southern Belle” but she is also very controlling. We can see that Amanda cares for her family but sometimes she does not know how to express her love.
In comparison, Richard and Tom are similar in many ways. They both love to escape from the real world and live in a fantasy through their reading.

Show More

Related Documents: The Glass Menagerie vs. Ah Wilderness Essay

Oscar Hammerstein Ii and early American Theatre Essay