Desire and Illusion

This study aims to explore the characters of Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie (1945) through the lens of Jacques Lacan's Theory of Desire (1977). It seeks to uncover the symbolic significance of the title The Glass Menagerie and relate its meaning to the circumstances surrounding the characters' lives. By applying Lacan's Theory of Desire (1977) the research deepens the understanding of each character who harbors personal desires and strives to fulfill them. At times these desires transform into needs. This research compares the sufferings of male and female characters highlighting how one woman exhibits low self-confidence and paranoia stemming from a physical disability (a limp). She tends to isolate herself and fears judgment from others. In contrast the male character is responsible for providing for the family. Through Lacan's Theory of Desire (1977) this study examines how desires evolve into needs and how the challenges in fulfilling these desires lead to a fragmentation of personality resulting in an irreversible state of mind. Lacan's theory helps identify the metonymy present in the characters of the play The Glass Menagerie (1945).