He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion (11). During Toms monologue, he discusses the premise of the play; when it takes place, who the characters are, and how the play is to be perceived as a memory. His reference to illusion is not used as to describe any of the plays specific events, but rather to subtly give weight to the plays ideas. Although the play itself is an illusion of reality, Tom says that there is truth behind the illusion. A reader can use this as a sort of flashlight as one enters the play. Shinning it around, looking for the truth that Tom speaks. Williams, by stating this idea in the beginning, focuses the readers mind into such a state that he will unconsciously look for what Williams knows is already there-- the conflict of reality versus illusion.
Look at the characters one by one, determining each of their realities and illusions. This will help to establish why Williams chose this as a central theme, and what the resolution of these ideas are. Because Amanda plays such a large part in the play, we will start with her. Amandas life is much illusion. She establishes this right
Finally, Jim is introduced as he is welcomed to the Wingfield residence when he makes the important house call. By this point, Williams has made it apparent the Wingfields are not the run-of-the-mill family; in contrast, they have many problems. They seem to all be suffering form lack of reality. There world is obviously not consistent with the outside world, yet, they dont seem to notice or care. When Jim is introduced, we almost feel sorry for the Wingfields. What will Jim do when his normalcy encounters the Wingfields out of touch world One does not have to wait long to tell that Jim, is too, out of touch with reality. He believes that he is the ends to all means, but refuses to see his impact on people or life. He looks to the future and past, without paying any attention to the present. If Jim cant bring the harsh reality to this family what is to happen Has the reader been given the resolution Jim is only a page in the chapter about the Wingfields. He has given Laura a glimpse of what might have been, but he will return to his life without question.
t I am the opposite of a stage musician. He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion (11). During Toms monologue, he discusses the premise of the play; when it takes place, who the characters are, and how the play is to be perceived as a memory. His reference to illusion is not used as to describe any of the plays specific events, but rather to subtly give weight to the plays ideas. Although the play itself is an illusion of reality, Tom says that there is truth behind the illusion. A reader can use this as a sort of flashlight as one enters the play. Shinning it around, looking for the truth that Tom speaks. Williams, by stating this idea in the beginning, focuses the readers mind into such a state that he will unconsciously look for what Williams knows is already there-- the conflict of reality versus illusion.
One must try to consider the story as a whole. Willaims has given the pretense that all characters in the play lack an understanding of reality. Perhaps they understand reality more than they let on; but the mere fact that they refuse to take part in such a world must stand for something. They each have different illusions to retreat into, but nonetheless, they are more alike than different. In the end, none of them have really changed, except for Tom. He appears to have understood that he could not have lived in such deception for any longer. Perhaps this is why he is the narrator. None of the other character
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