The Unicorn

As we stated in class, Laura's glass collection is the chief symbol in The Glass MEnagerie  by Tennessee Williams.  It represents Laura and her extreme fragility.  With this is mind, I was intrigued when the glass was presented in a very noticeable way in scene 7.  On page 1281, Laura talks about her glass unicorn ornament, which happens to be her favorite.  She says "He stays on a shelf with some horses that don't have horns and all of them seem to get along nicely together....   I haven't heard arguments among them!(p 1281)."  The unicorn represents Laura, set apart from the people around her by her disability, which resulted in her shyness.  Her shyness is also represented by the fact that she says the horses and unicorn don't argue, implying that they are quiet and don't argue, much like Laura herself.  The metaphor is further expanded when Laura and Jim are dancing.  They bump into the shelf of glass and the unicorn falls over, breaking of its horn.  The unicorn is now just like the other horses.  Similarly, Jim taught Laura that night to be confident and not ashamed of her disability.  The question remains whether or not Laura's shyness is truly cured, but regardless, her night with Jim taught her a great lesson.