This paper explores Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie as a ‘memory play,’ a term the playwright himself is credited with coining. The analysis delves into how memory shapes the structure, themes, and characterization of the play. Drawing connections between personal and universal memory, the paper examines how Williams reconstructs his past through his protagonist Tom, portraying the fragility of dreams and the inescapable pull of nostalgia. Using literary and critical perspectives, this study highlights the interplay between illusion and reality in the play, situating it within the broader tradition of memory in literature and theatre.
