Symbolism in Tennessee Williams' Play The Glass Menagerie

Images of Light as a Symbol of Hope

Matthew Arnold suggests that, “The pursuit of perfection, is the pursuit of sweetness and light.” In many ways, this is exactly what the characters of The Glass Menagerie are looking for in the play- perfection. They look for it in their future, as they search for a way to find security and hope. They find glimmers of hope throughout the story, yet each time it is extinguished like the candles at the end of the play. In Tennessee Williams’ play The Glass Menagerie, light serves as a symbol of hope, which is evident in the descriptive stage directions, as well as through the image of rainbows constantly brought into the play, and in specific images of light such as a lamp, or candles.