Laura Wingfield Character Analysis in The Glass Menagerie

The last reason why Laura is a modern tragic hero is because she realizes that she's the “broken unicorn” in society. Laura Wingfield lived in a home that provided her with a means by which to hide and escape the real world. Neither Laura nor her family members managed to escape from the family prison. A lack of connection with the outside world and an inability to live life according to her own terms resulted in frustration and disappointment. Life itself is imperfect and dull as it often seems but resorting to fantasy and illusion only worsens the situation. Taking Laura's emotional and inner world into account, reality has a weak grasp on Laura since she lives in a private world populated by glass animals; objects that are extremely and dangerously delicate, just like Laura's emotional life. She lacks the confidence and the courage to deal with reality. Her only other interest is playing old records and talking about her glass animals as if they were real beings. After catching a glimpse of reality through Jim's words, she begins to withdraw and becomes frail and limp once more after a second heartbreak by Jim. Having realized that she will always be the broken "unicorn" in society, she gives up on trying to please her mother and to fit in.

In conclusion, Laura Wingfield is a modern tragic hero rather than a classic tragic hero. Her story throughout the play gives us all the evidence we need to make that assessment. In the end, she has no more motivation to pursue professional success, romantic relationships, or even ordinary friendships, she accepts the fact that she will always be an outsider. From her mother's crippling pressure to her heartbreak from her high school crush, it’s hard for her to keep her grasp on reality. Despite having a slight physical defect - a limp - Laura has magnified this defect to a point where it has affected her entire personality. After the recent heartbreak she received from her high school crush, he sends the unicorn forth with Jim now that it is broken, as instead of remaining in her unique world with other unique glass animals, she sends it forth with her ordinary self.