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The Glass Menagerie

Topics: The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams, Emotion Pages: 3 (1108 words) Published: May 23, 2013
The female voice is an agency by which a particular point of view is expressed or represented to responders. The female voice is examined in the play “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams through the protagonist character of Amanda Wingfield. Williams uses techniques throughout the play such as speech, music and irony. Similarly in the text “Before I fall” by Lauren Oliver the female voice is highlighted through the main character of Samantha Kingston, as she discovers the benefits of living without regret. Oliver uses techniques to explain the female voice through…

The female voice in “The glass menagerie” is highlighted essentially through the character of Amanda and her nostalgia towards her past life. In the play Amanda uses speech when she talks about her past life she maintains that she had a lot of gentlemen callers “seventeen! –Gentlemen callers!” she explains, a day that has been recounted so many times. The use of speech demonstrates to the responders Amanda’s voice through her evocative attitude about her past. As the play continues Amanda’s voice and her nostalgia towards her past life is demonstrated through music. The stage directions She stops in front of the picture. Music plays this is used to enhance the feelings of regret that Amanda’s voice shows. Amanda’s feelings towards her past are linked with the theme of the play, appearance and reality. Amanda fluctuates between illusion and reality, recalling days of her youth, as it is her only defence against the boredom and emptiness of living. Through Amanda’s voice it is indicated that she hasn’t accepted her reality and clings to her views from the past. Williams uses Irony when Amanda accuses Tom of living in a dream ‘you live in a dream; you manufacture illusions’. The use of Irony demonstrates that Amanda is the one who is living in the dream since she can’t move on from her past ways and life. Williams uses Amanda and her nostalgic feelings towards her past life to identify how the...
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