Previous
Style
Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Scene 7
Explanation and Analysis:
Since all the action of the play is based on Tom's memory (made clear by his introductory speech), the audience understands the Wingfield family dynamics solely through his perspective. Tom finds his mother and sister flawed, as they are both unable to escape certain illusions that ultimately prevent them from participating effectively in the real world. Amanda clings to the memory of her own girlhood as well as outdated conventions from this past, while Laura is convinced that, because of her disability, she cannot be an active, normal participant in the world. While Tom does care for his family, he notices and highlights these traits as flaws, making the overall tone of the play tragic and hopeless.
This tone is especially evident as the play draws to a close in Scene 7. Tom reflects on what he has remembered and states explicitly that he is still haunted by memories of his family, especially his sister:
Oh, Laura, Laura, I tried to leave you behind me, but I am more faithful than I intended to be!
In this moment, Tom directs his speech directly to Laura, confessing with a sense of helplessness that even after all the time spent apart, he has been unable to forget her. As a memory play, The Glass Menagerie reckons with the fact that some memories and some illusions are unforgettable, and Tom's final confession cements this tragic truth.
