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Blue Roses
Tennessee Williams's stage directions frequently call for music to underscore key moments in a scene. “The Glass Menagerie” theme repeats frequently throughout the play. Laura and Amanda associate music with the absent Mr. Wingfield, who left the family his Victrola. The Victrola player provides Laura an auditory escape and contrasts with the clickety-clack of the typewriter, which reminds her of her failed attempt to attend business college. Laura also associates music with Jim, whom she met in the school choir; Jim, we are told, has a beautiful voice.
Music Quotes in The Glass Menagerie
The The Glass Menagerie quotes below all refer to the symbol of Music. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Scene 7
Quotes
They’re common as—weeds, but—you—well, you’re—Blue Roses!
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Glass Menagerie LitChart as a printable PDF.
Music Symbol Timeline in The Glass Menagerie
The timeline below shows where the symbol Music appears in The Glass Menagerie. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Scene 1
...Mississippi, a story she has clearly told many, many times before. The lights dim and music begins to play. At Laura’s gentle urging, Tom mechanically plays along, asks his mother questions...
(full context)
...suggests that Laura practice her typing as she waits for gentleman callers to arrive. The music of “The Glass Menagerie” plays as Laura tells Amanda that there won’t be callers coming...
(full context)
Scene 6
...on the landing. Laura desperately tries to buy time by winding the Victrola to play music, but eventually, she reluctantly opens the door.
(full context)
Scene 7
Jim and Laura hear waltz music from the Paradise Dance Hall. Despite Laura’s protests, Jim leads her in a clumsy waltz...
(full context)
