TSA Week 7: Understanding of the Characters

The Glass Menagerie is a memory play about the Wingfield family. This play is told through one of its own character,

• Tom Wingfield(the hard worker in the family.) The narrator
• Amanda---> mom of Tom and Laura; bitter from her husband's early leaving from the family and no friends to keep her company. Expectations for her children ate too high
• Laura---> older sibling, no confidence, very shy, and devotes herself to old records and her collection of glass figures. Keeps away from the outside world, in other words less acquainted 
• Tom---> pressured from being the supporter of the family. Works at shoe warehouse, frustrated with his mother; tries to escape all his worries and troubles by drinking and going out; ends up making a hasty decision
• Jim---> old friend of Tom and Laura, works with Tom in the warehouse too, devoted to goals of success.
• Mr. Wingfield---> husband of Amanda; father of Tom and Laura. Abandoned his family earlier. A piece of him is still left behind in Wingfield home. He never appears on stage in scene

This is just a small outline to help me know a little about each character in this play. 

TSA Week 6: Beginning Process

Last week in English, the class watched a movie called, "The Glass Menagerie." Also written as a play, but with slight differences. Students were assigned to do an analytical paper on this story, and are required to include a thesis/claim with supporting examples. Since the audience is quite different and broader from the last essay, we have to think harder and research or resources have to be credible. After observing the provided ideas, I've decided to do a thematic or character comparison with a story we have already read. I chose to use Laura from The Glass Menagerie, and Elisa- the wife from The Chrysanthemums. They both seem to have a hard time with relationships in general. Even though Elisa is already married, she still has a difficult time staying happy. In Laura's situation, she isn't married, but hopes to find someone. She ends up with an old crush for a short period of time, but realizes it doesn't go as she expected. They both kind of have no confidence except that Elisa may be a little stronger than Laura is. With her mother always down her back about everything, may be the reason why Laura feels the way she does or is used to her mother doing things for her all the time. Elisa knows that her one true talent is planting flowers, but that's all she really is good at. Laura on the other hand, was enrolled in school for short period time, but ends up dropping out because of her shyness.

Week 5: Beyond Class Activity

Part of English 102, students are required to complete a beyond class activity of some sort. We have the choice to visit a museum, watch a play, or hear an author read. I think I'd be more interested in watching a play. So I chose to go see Othello, a romantic play written by William Shakespeare directed by Chris Abraham. Othello is a little similar to Romeo and Juliet also written by William Shakespeare. In Othello, the man and woman struggle to fall in love from others opinions and comments, but end up finding a way to love each other no matter what. Even if people planned to destroy his love. This play is  also known for unexpected conflicts along with their outcomes.