DRAMATIC CONVENTIONS:

A convention is a mutual agreement about the meaning of gestures, actions, and words. In the "Glass Menagerie", dramatic conventions are used for the purpose of memory. They show how the actors are remembering things out of their past. One such use of a dramatic convention is Tom being a character as well as a narrator. When Tom acts as the narrator, the audience is focused directly on him. They know what he's thinking and saying, so it's easier to remember. Another example would be the music. In memory plays everything important happens to music. When things start to get a little hectic or sad, the music comes into play. Also, the picture of Tom and Laura's father becomes lit up at certain times in the play. This is to show how Tom is making the same mistakes his father made. It is also showing where Tom's father had a major impact on what's happening.

DIALECT:

Amanda's dialect in "The Glass Menagerie" is used to make her character seem even more ignorant than it is meant to be. Amanda has a southern accent that adds humor to this play. It stands out the most when she is speaking to Ida Scott. If you could actually hear her talking with the accent it would most certainly make you laugh. It also adds a touch of humor when she is upset and yells at Tom and Laura. Amanda's dialect plays an outstanding part in the humor of this play.

STAGE DIRECTIONS:

The stage directions in The Glass Menagerie are incredible! If you haven't seen this play and are reading it for the first time, you will be amazed at how well you can picture things happening. It is as if you can really see them. Williams gives his stage directions in great detail. Such as, Act 1 Scene 1, Williams gives an in depth image of the setting of the play and what's happening around the play. He adds the part of the war that's going on, and even where little things are located on the stage. He seems to have really wanted you to see it happening.

CONTRASTING CHARACTERS|

AMANDA AND LAURA-

Amanda and Laura are two characters in the Glass Menagerie that are totally different from one another.

I.Personality-

Amanda\Loud |

AMANDA. I happen to know the art of conversation. TOM. I bet you could talk! (I,vi)

JIM. How do you do? AMANDA. Well, well, well, so this is Mr. O'Connor? Introdction's entirely unncesssary... (II,viii)

Laura\Quiet|

JIM. Would you give me a pillow? LAURA. What? JIM.A pillow! LAURA. Oh... (II,viii)

LAURA. Mother, I'll bring the coffee. AMANDA. No, no, no, no. You sit down. I'm going to be the colored boy today and you're going to be the lady. (I,i)