How does the breaking of glass animals function as a symbol throughout the play?
When Tom breaks one of Laura’s glass animals, it corresponds with the shattering of his family’s illusions about himself. But when Laura accidentally breaks one herself, while dancing with Jim, it suggests that she is poking a small hole into her emotional defenses, and opening herself up to the possibility of love (and of pain). The horn breaking off the unicorn depicts the animal now becoming “normal,” while the breaking of the glass also symbolizes Laura’s transformation into an ordinary girl who can love and hurt like everyone else. • Q: What is the symbolism of the fire escape? A: Clearly the fire escape is the first step out of the Wingfield apartment for Tom. By retreating to the fire escape (by escaping the fire), he can preserve his sanity just a bit longer, until he finally is forced to make a clean break of it and leave altogether. Symbolically, Laura falls on her only attempt to go on to the fire escape. Indeed, she will break and shatter if she ever tries to leave like Tom
