Read this excerpt from Scene 7 of The Glass Menagerie by
Tennessee
Williams.
LAURA: This one is one of the oldest. It's nearly thirteen. [He
stretches
out his hand.]
Oh, be careful-if you breathe, it breaks!
JIM: I'd better not take it. I'm pretty clumsy with things.
LAURA: Go on, I trust you with him! [Places it in his palm.]
There now-you're holding him gently!
Hold him over the light. He loves the light! You see how the light
shines through him?
JIM: It sure does shine!
LAURA: I shouldn't be partial, but he is my favorite one.
JIM: What kind of thing is this one supposed to be?
What does the glass unicorn symbolize in the play?
It represents Laura's frailty and her physical and
emotional difference from everyone else.
It indicates that Laura is immature and has been kept
childlike by her mother.
It suggests that Laura is a cautious person who takes
great care of her things.
It shows that Laura has something in her life that she
can look forward to since she is unemployed.



Answer :

In "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams, the glass unicorn symbolizes Laura's frailty and her physical and emotional difference from everyone else. Here's why: 1. The fragility of the glass unicorn mirrors Laura's own delicate nature and vulnerability. Just like the unicorn, Laura is unique and stands out from the others due to her physical disability and emotional sensitivity. 2. The unicorn's horn, which is described as fragile and easily breakable, reflects Laura's own insecurities and fears of being hurt or damaged by the outside world. 3. Laura's attachment to the unicorn, especially considering it is her favorite piece in her glass menagerie, highlights her need for something pure and beautiful in her life to hold onto amidst the challenges she faces. 4. By showing how Laura interacts with the glass unicorn with such care and tenderness, the play emphasizes her isolation and the way she retreats into a world of imagination and delicate beauty to cope with her reality. Overall, the glass unicorn symbolizes Laura's uniqueness, fragility, and her struggle to find connection and acceptance in a world where she feels different and alone.