Dual Trauma Narrative In The Glass Menagerie

The Glass Menagerie,Tennessee Williams’ overnight success,has exerted a profound influence on American and world theaters.Since the debut of The Glass Menagerie,scholars at home and abroad have adopted diverse approaches to explore the different implicit meanings of the play,but so far no one has elucidated the dual narrative progression existing in the play.Moreover,few studies combine narrative techniques with the theme of trauma in previous studies on The Glass Menagerie.Therefore,combining Professor Shen Dan’s dual narrative progression theory with Professor Judith Herman’s trauma and recovery theory,this thesis explores how Williams expresses the theme of trauma through narrative and the important function of trauma narrative for trauma recovery,in order to enrich the research results of The Glass Menagerie,deepen readers’ understanding of Williams and his writing techniques,and provide some references and suggestions for traumatized individuals.Apart from the introduction and conclusion,the main part of this thesis is divided into three chapters.The introduction part gives a brief introduction to The Glass Menagerie and provides a categorized overview of multifaceted studies on The Glass Menagerie both nationally and internationally.Besides,it outlines two theories applied to this thesis and indicates the research purpose and significance of this thesis.The first chapter discusses the dual narrative progression constructed by Williams and the relationship between two narrative progressions in The Glass Menagerie.In the dual narrative progression,Williams separately narrates the either-or attitudes and approaches of the Wingfields to the traumas they have suffered during the Great Depression.The overt narrative progression,presenting characters’ escape from confronting traumas and constant living with traumas,is explicit,while the covert narrative progression,presenting characters’ healing traumas,is implicit.Two narrative progressions form a mutually subversive interaction that creates profound thematic meaning,rich characterizations,and outstanding aesthetic value.The second chapter discusses the traumas suffered by characters as presented by Williams in the overt narrative progression.Williams mainly uses language to imitate the causes and symptoms of traumas to show the tremendous impacts of traumas on the psychology and interpersonal relationship of traumatized characters.As a result of the attack of traumatic events,three characters chronically suffer from three symptoms of trauma: “intrusion”,“hyperarousal”,and “constriction”,thus they further either doubt their selves or tear apart their attachments to others.The third chapter discusses the progression of trauma recovery that characters undergo in the manner of self-empowerment or help from others,which is elaborated by Williams in the covert narrative progression.Three traumatized characters try to face and heal their traumas,either on their own initiative or with the help of the“therapist” in the play.They go through three stages of trauma recovery: “the establishment of safety”,“the remembrance and mourning”,and “the reconnection with ordinary life”.The conclusion part generalizes the above discussions.Williams constructs dual narrative progression in The Glass Menagerie.In the overt narrative progression,Williams projects the traumas his family and he have suffered onto the characters and gives vent to his emotions by narrating the traumas of characters.In the covert narrative progression,Williams tries to heal his traumas by narrating the progression of trauma recovery experienced by characters.Two narrative progressions run side by side in the play so that readers can experience a similar recovery progression as they share weal and woe with the traumatized characters.In this way the play serves a positive sanative function.