Symbols and Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie illustrates how Tennessee Williams incorporates symbols to help express the play's central theme. One of the recurring symbols, evident throughout the work, is that of the "glass menagerie", symbolic of Laura herself. Another symbol for Laura is the glass unicorn. Yet another symbol is that of the image of the father, a symbol of freedom. These symbols play an important role in the development of the plot, as well as in the theme of the work. The glass figurines that reside in Laura's menagerie symbolize Laura herself. Laura is "like a piece of his glass collection, too exquisitely fragile to be moved from the shelf" (849). Due to a slight flaw, amplified several times by her own mind, Laura's self-image is as fragile as her collection. Due to her low self-image, she is extremely reserved, to the point of avoiding contact with others as much as possible. Laura escapes "to the world of her menagerie where she is safe from the world of people" (Kahn 74)...