The Rise of Western Power When China Ruled the Sea Essay

The rise of Western power is a relatively recent development in the modern era. Previously the world could be seen as polycentric with overlapping spheres of influence (Marks 34). However, by the fifteenth century, China held considerable economic and military power, leading the world in size, population, agriculture, and commerce (Mungello 1). China also excelled in technology, military strength, learning, and the fine arts (Mungello 2). Leading China through its glory days was the Ming Dynasty which endured more than 250 years until its decline in 1644 (Dardess 1). Before the Ming dynasty, China had become little more than a portion of the Mongol Empire. Hongwu, formerly Zhu Yuanzhang, became the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty†¦show more content†¦These treasure ships or bao chuan were built in the docks of Nanjing and the first voyage consisted of 317 ships that were up to 400 hundred feet long (Levathes 21). The sheer size of the bao chuan can be compared to the ships of Columbus and de Gama nearly a century later and a quarter of the size (Levathes 22). Zheng He and his treasure fleet traveled from China to the coast of East Africa, stopping in major ports in the Spice Islands, India, and Arabia. For centuries the Indian Ocean had been a coveted and profitable source of commerce and trade due to the market for spices and textiles especially after the fall of the Roman Empire and the decline of the Mediterranean. The Silk Road served as the primary route to reach the trade cites of the East until its decline with the fall of the Mongol Empire (Pagden 57). As the Silk Road fell into decline, navigation techniques improved, and the Ottoman Empire rose in power, sea routes became an increasingly important way to reach trade in the Indian Ocean. The voyages of Zheng He had a couple of effects on world history. The primary effect of the voyages was to opening a sea route that connected the China Seas with the Indian Ocean (Marks 48). This allowed for trade to flow from the eastern coast of Africa to Japan making the East an extremely profitable market. InShow MoreRelatedXi s Consolidation Of Power : Why China May Define Our Future World Order1485 Words   |  6 PagesXi’s Consolidation of Power: Why China May Define our Future World Order On October 27th 2016, the world watched as China officially named its President Xi Jinping the ‘core leader’ of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) at the Sixth Plenum of the 18th CCP Central Committee. In the new directive released through state media, all party members should â€Å"closely unite around the party center with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core...and unswervingly safeguard the party leadership’s authority and centralizedRead MoreROMAN EMPIRE AND THE HAN DYNASTY IN CHINA1441 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ROMAN EMPIRE AND THE HAN DYNASTY IN CHINA Rodrick Carter HIEU 201 Liberty University 29 November 2014 Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty in China The Roman Empire and Han Dynasty in China are two kingdoms that, despite the geographical difference between them, managed to achieve great success and failure in equal measure. Both were characterized by imperial dynasties that were headed by the emperors and they held large territories. Both of these kingdoms faced various challenges afterRead MoreEssay on Chinese Dynasties3137 Words   |  13 PagesReasons for Rise: Unlike the early accounts of history by the Chinese, there is archaeological evidence of the Shang, who built their cities in northern China around the eastern parts of the Yellow River. For this reason they are called the Yellow River civilization. They were a bronze age people; bronze-working seems to have entered China around 2000 BC (about one thousand years after its invention in Mesopotamia). B. Territorial Location amp; size at height of power (map): The Shang ruled the areaRead MoreSocial And Economic Effects Of British Imperialism1544 Words   |  7 PagesA period of colonial expansion by the United States, European powers, and Japan. This took place during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and marked a large pursuit of oversea territories. 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NeedhamRead More Genghis Khan and the Mongolian Culture Essay2837 Words   |  12 Pagesconsolidation of the many Mongol tribes. The second part will discuss the rise of Borjigin Temà ¼jin to the post of Genghis Khan and which of his qualities allowed him to achieve this. The third part will discuss his legacy and how even after his death his planning was evident and his empire continued to expand. All these parts will have explanations on how they connect to our present day study of organizational behavior. â€Å"When we examine [organizational] culture and leadership closely, we see thatRead MoreExpansion Of Expansion Early Civilizations1476 Words   |  6 Pages Through expansion early civilizations were able to attain great power and wealth. Early civilizations were always looking into ways to expand their empires or territories. War and violence was the most common form a civilization would expand their power. 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Research Outline Gay Marriage Free Essays

Introduction The Controversy â€Å"Same-sex marriage permits couples of the same gender to enter legally-recognized marriages and provides them with the same legal rights as couples in heterosexual relationships† (Same-Sex Marriage). â€Å"Opponents of same-sex marriage argue that the institution of marriage should apply to only unions between one man and one woman. Allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry, they say, undermines the institution of marriage† (Same-Sex Marriage). We will write a custom essay sample on Research Outline Gay Marriage or any similar topic only for you Order Now Where the Issue Stands Today â€Å"In America, six states plus D. C. allow same-sex couples to marry, three more respect marriages of same-sex couples validly preformed in other states, eight provide civil unions or comprehensive domestic partnerships, and three more have limited domestic partnership systems. That’s twenty states plus D. C. that provide some significant state-level relationship protections, and those states are home to 130 million people† (LGBT Relationships). â€Å" Unmarried couples who live together can now tell their Facebook friends they’re more than just â€Å"in a relationship†. The social networking service added â€Å"in a civil union† and â€Å"in a domestic partnership† to possible relationship status options in its user’s profiles in Canada, the U. S. , the U. K. , France, and Australia (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). Thesis: Same-sex couples deserve the same full marriage rights and benefits given to heterosexual couples; marriage is one of the basic civil rights and denying any American that right is unconstitutional. Issue 1: Legislative History First Push For Marriage Rights â€Å"In 1942 the U. S. Supreme Court ruled in Skinner v. Oklahoma that marriage is â€Å"one of the basic civil rights. Loving v. Virginia, decided by the Supreme Court in 1967, ended race discrimination in marriage and also affirmed: â€Å"The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free me. † These decisions paved the way for same-sex couples to demand equ al marriage rights† (Same-Sex Marriage). â€Å"The tide began to turn in 1933, when 3 same sex couples in Hawaii sued the state for marriage licenses. The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the state was required to demonstrate sufficient reason for denying the licenses, or stop discriminating. In the 1996 trial decision, Judge Kevin Chang ruled that there is no good reason to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Despite this clear ruling to end discrimination in marriage, Hawaii amended its constitution to block same-sex marriages† (Same-Sex Marriage). â€Å"In 2001, the same year the Netherlands became the first country to to give same-sex couples full marriage rights, seven same-sex couples in Massachusetts who had been denied marriage licenses sued the state. Their case was bolstered by a U. S. Supreme Court decision in 2003, Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down sodomy laws and stated that the â€Å"moral disapproval† of voters or government is not a valid basis for discrimination in marriage. In 2003 the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the state constitution mandates equality in marriage for same-sex and heterosexual couples. Three months later the court specified that civil unions did not meet this requirement, and on May 17, 2004, Massachusetts became the first state to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. † (Same-Sex Marriage). Defense of Marriage Act The word marriage means only a legal union between 1 man and 1 woman as husband and wife† (United States Cong. ). â€Å"No State, territory, or possession of the United States, or including Indian tribe, shall be required to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State, territory, possession, or tribe respecting a relationship between persons of the same sex that is treated as marriage u nder the laws of such other State, territory, possession, or tribe, or right or claim arising from such relationship† ((United States Cong. . â€Å"Obama said he would indeed work to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, calling it â€Å"discriminatory†Ã¢â‚¬  (Zeleny). Federal Marriage Amendment â€Å"Since 2002 opponents of same-sex marriage have worked to pass a Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) to the U. S. Constitution. This amendment would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. It has been introduced to the U. S. Congress in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2008 but has failed to gain enough support to pass† (Same-Sex Marriage) Proposition 8 On June 16, 2008, California began allowing same-sex couples to receive marriage licenses. But on November 4 of that year, Proposition 8 passed, again banning same-sex marriage† (Same-Sex Marriage). â€Å"California’s Proposition 8, which sought to ban same-sex marriage, is an attempt to suppress per sonal rights and force religious beliefs and codes of behavior on everyone, including non-believers. Narrow-minded interpretations of faith often have led to self-righteousness and oppression of others, and they are again on the rise† (Stone). One might argue that Proposition 8 discriminates against gays and lesbians in violation of the Equal Protection Clause. One might argue that Proposition 8 unconstitutionally limits the fundamental right to marry. One might argue that Proposition 8 violates the separation of church and state† (Stone). Issue 2: Domestic Partnership and Civil Unions v. Marriage Difference in Rights â€Å"The right to marry is not just about the actual legal ceremony, but an equal right to the extensive list of legal protections awarded to married couples. These benefits given to legally married couples range from tax relief to medical decision making. Civil unions and domestic partnerships may seem like equal unions, but the protections they give to registered couples is often far less than that of marriage† (Johnson). Specific Differences in Benefits: â€Å"Marriage: Over 1,049 federal and state level benefits, Civil Unions: Over 300 state level benefits† (Johnson) â€Å"Tax Relief. Marriage: Couples can file both federal and state tax returns jointly. Civil Unions: Couples can only file jointly in the state of civil registration† (Johnson). â€Å"Medical Decisions. Marriage: Partners can make emergency medical decisions. Civil Unions: Partners can only make medical decisions in the registered state. Partners may not be able to make decisions out of state† (Johnson). â€Å"Death Benefits. Marriage: In the case of a partner’s death, the spouse receives any earned Social Security or veteran benefits. Civil Unions: Partners do not receive Social Security or any other government benefits in case of death† (Johnson). Child/Spousal Support. Marriage: In case of divorce, individuals may have a legally-binding financial obligation to spouses and children. Civil Unions: In the case of dissolution , no such spousal or child benefits are guaranteed or required out of state† (Johnson). â€Å"Immigration Rights. Marriage: U. S. citizens and legal residents can sponsor their spouses and family members for immigr ation. Civil Unions: U. S. citizens and legal residents cannot sponsor non-legal spouses or family members† (Johnson). Public and Political Opinions â€Å"According to a Pew Research Center report in 2009, 53% of Americans oppose same-sex marriage, but 57% support civil unions for same sex couples† (Same-Sex Marriage). â€Å" In 1996 when Obama was running for the Illinois Senate, Barack Obama stated, â€Å" I favor legalized same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages. † But during his presidential campaign in 2008 Obama shifted his views, stating his support for civil unions† (Same-Sex Marriage). Political Action June 17th 2009 â€Å"The package of domestic partnership benefits that President Obama established for federal workers on Wednesday drew the loudest protests from some of those it was intended to help, gay men and lesbians who criticized the move as too timid. The administrative memorandum extending some partnership rights to federal workers in same-sex relationships allows administration personnel to take leave to care for sick partners and requires the government to recognize their partners as household members when determining overseas housing allocations for State Department employees, among other things† (Zeleny). But several of the nation’s most prominent gay and lesbian political leaders quickly attacked the president for failing to extend full health care benefits to the same-sex partners of federal workers, questioning the administration’s explanation that it is precluded from doing so by the Defense of Marriage Act, which Mr. Obama had vowed to repeal during his presidential campaign† (Zeleny). â€Å"†I think it’s insulting,† David Mixner, a prominent gay rights advocate, said of the new benefits plan. ‘Without minimizing how it will improve lives to some extent, what they said to us today is we will give you family leave, some things like that, but the most important thing, health care, we’re not giving you† (Zeleny). Issue 3: Race and Religion’s Influence African American Resistance â€Å"In our world there are divisions and even tensions among minority groups, and the quest to legalize same-sex marriage has met particul ar resistance from African-Americans. This isn’t a topic that advocates for gay rights or their many black supporters relish discussing, because it focuses on a wedge where they wish there was a tighter bond. But polls indicate that support for same-sex marriage lags among black Americans† (Bruni). â€Å"In 2008 Californians passed Proposition 8, which prohibited state recognition of same-sex marriage, with a 52 percent majority. Voting analyses suggest that between 58 and 70 percent of black voters backed the prohibition† (Bruni). â€Å"Wade Henderson, the president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, noted the existence of phrases like †gay is the new black† and said that attempts to equate the persecution of gay and black Americans can be †deeply offensive. †African-Americans were enslaved. And during their brutal struggle for justice, they couldn’t make a secret of what set them apart from others, Henderson said during a phone interview Friday† (Bruni). â€Å"Two weeks ago the Human Rights Campaign inaugurated a new effort to move public opinion nationwide by unveiling a video testimonial, being distributed on the Internet for now, in which Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, speaks up for same-sex marriage, not yet legal in New Jersey. In its infancy the H. R. C. effort, called Americans for Marriage Equality, has showcased three prominent black Americans in a row. That’s no accident† (Bruni). Religious Reasons for Opposition â€Å"Much of the debate on same-sex marriage stems from religious teachings on marriage and on homosexuality. Islam, for example, officially prohibits same-sex marriage, whereas Reform Judaism has long permitted same-sex couples to celebrate their commitment. The Roman Catholic church opposes same-sex marriage, and American bishops, stating that â€Å"marriage is a faithful, exclusive and lifelong union between one man and one woman,† strongly support the FMA† (Same-Sex Marriage). The first is that the Church does not recognize an ontological distinction between a homosexual and a heterosexual, whereas modern society, in creating the concept of â€Å"sexual orientation,† insists there is such a distinction. If the Church rejects â€Å"orientation,† how does it deal with the fact that some men are sexually attracted to other men, but not to women? Isn’t it fundamentally discr iminatory and unequal to allow heterosexuals a sexual outlet, but not homosexuals? The Church answers this very simply. Homosexual temptation, just like any other illicit sexual temptation, should not be acted upon. (Williams). â€Å"In the Church’s eyes, every act of sexual relations must [be] open to procreation. The Church believes human life is always a good thing, and that God wants people to â€Å"be fruitful and multiply. † It also teaches that the procreative act is the way God brings life into the world—remembering that, according to Christianity, human life is more than just the physical body. According to the Church, a married couple participates in God’s creation of new life, but God himself is seen as the Creator of new life. Shutting the sexual act off to procreation is literally shutting out God† (Williams). Why Basing Law on Religion is Unconstitutional â€Å"Proposition 8 was enacted by a vote of 52% to 48%. Those identifying themselves as Evangelicals, however, supported Proposition 8 by a margin of 81% to 19%, and those who say they attend church services weekly supported Proposition 8 by a vote of 84% to 16%. Non-Christians, by the way, opposed Proposition 8 by a margin 85% to 15% and those who do not attend church regularly opposed Proposition 8 by a vote of 83% to 17%. What this tells us, quite strikingly, is that Proposition 8 was a highly successful effort of a particular religious group to conscript the power of the state to impose their religious beliefs on their fellow citizens, whether or not those citizens share those beliefs. This is a serious threat to a free society committed to the principle of separation of church and state† (Stone). â€Å"The Framers of the American Constitution knew that throughout human history religious self-righteousness has caused intolerance, discrimination and injustice. It was for that reason that they embedded in our Constitution a fundamental commitment to the separation of church and state. The Framers were not anti-religion. They understood that religion could help to nurture the public morality necessary to a self-governing society. But religion was to be fundamentally private. It was for the individual. It was not to intrude unduly into the political sphere† (Stone). â€Å"While religious faiths differ in their definition of marriage, the government has an obligation not to engage in unconstitutional discrimination against gay and lesbian couples. The concept of equal protection under the law, enshrined in the constitution, requires that fundamental rights like the right to marry be made available equally to same-sex couples† (LGBT Relationships). Issue 4: Common Misconceptions â€Å"Gay Marriage is Wrong Because the Bible Says So† A few months back I found myself debating a lady from the General Synod. The presence of a verse in the book of Leviticus was her justification for arguing against any rights for gays. ‘What about the imprecations against all sorts of dietary laws in the same book? ‘ I asked her. ‘What of the warning against the mixing of fabrics? What about that verse in Exodus, â€Å"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live? â€Å"‘ ‘Well, I don’t know anything about that,’ she said†(Murray). â€Å"Gay Marriage is Wrong Because Same-Sex Couples Can’t Have Children† â€Å"The idea that marriage is solely for the procreation of children is equally dismissible. Plenty of straight couples, particularly older ones, do not marry to have children. † (Murray). â€Å"There are many gay couples that are in committed and happy relationships. These relationships are often long lasting and sometimes involve adopted or naturally born children† (Johnson). Same-sex couples are raising hundreds of thousands of children in the United States. And, according to a long-term study, those kids are competent and well-adjusted. The study followed about 80 children conceived by lesbian moms using donor insemination in the mid 1980s. By the age of 17, the kids rated better in academic and soci al competence and had fewer behavior problems than a nationally representative sample† (Kids Thrive With Two Moms). â€Å"The LGBT Community is More Promiscuous† â€Å"Often, people associate gay men with sexual addiction. However, the majority of gay individuals are no more sexually active than heterosexuals. Many gay men visit bars, clubs or the internet in an effort to find sexual partners, however just as many seek long term relationships in the same places â€Å"(Johnson). â€Å"An aspect of male ‘gay life’ some heterosexuals claim to have a problem with is the perceived promiscuity. Whether this is in reality any more distinctive than among straight people, gay marriage offers a remedy, giving gays, like straights, a public and private path towards commitment. At a time when many heterosexuals are spurning the idea of marriage, here is a section of society positively lobbying for the right to respect and continue the institution. Perhaps gay marriage will encourage more straight people back on to the marital path? † (Murray). â€Å"AIDS is a Gay Disease† â€Å"Many rumors about AIDS still linger from the 80’s. Those misconceptions were based on a lack of understanding and fear. Though the source of the deadly disease hasn’t been traced to it’s root, AIDS is not just a gay disease† (Johnson). Conclusion Restatement of Thesis: Denying equal marriage rights to same-sex couples is unconstitutional, and currant legislation that denies these rights should be removed. Why must things change now. Not allowing same-sex marriage denying gay and lesbian couples there constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness. The basis for many arguments opposing gay marriage are on religious grounds, and it is unconstitutional to create laws based on a religious view not held by all American citizens. â€Å"Despite arguments that so called â€Å"same-sex marriage† seeks to redefine â€Å"traditional marriage†, allowing committed gay and lesbian couples to marry does not change the meaning of marriage. Gay and lesbian couples want to get married and make a lifetime commitment to the person they love and to protect their families† (LGBT Relationships). How to cite Research Outline Gay Marriage, Essays

Date 6/4/00 125326 PM Eastern Daylight Time Essay Example For Students

Date: 6/4/00 12:53:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time Essay POeDate:6/4/00 12:53:26 PM Eastern Daylight TimeThe Glass Menagerie: Plight of the WingfieldsIn Tennessee Williams: A Portrait in Laughter and Lamentation, Harry Rasky uses extensive interviews with Williams to explore the playwright’s intent. Through these interviews, Rasky presents a glimpse of the playwright’s life-world and the driving force behind his creations. Rasky reports Williams as saying: â€Å"I have always been more interested in creating a character that contains something crippled. I think nearly all of us have some kind of defect, anyway, and I suppose I have found it easier to identify with the characters who verge on hysteria, who were frightened of life, who were desperate to reach out to another person† (134). This statement supports the idea that Williams incorporates something crippled into all his major characters. In The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams portrays a crippling mother and child relationship comprising fundamental themes of dysfunctionalism. He poignantly illustrates that none of the characters are capable of living in the present. They believe their functionality and life’s happiness lies in their repeated quests for escape from plight. As such, they retreat into their separate worlds to escape life’s brutalities. Their daily tribulations thrive in an overcrowded building’s rear apartment where lower middle-class population is a symptomatic impulse of a large and fundamentally enslaved section in American society. Set in Depression-era St. Louis, the overbearing Southern ex-charmer, Amanda Wingfield is the de facto head of the household. A former Southern belle, Amanda is a single mother who behaves as though she still is the high school beauty queen. Williams’ still-resonant study reveals her desperate struggle with the forces of fate against her dysfunctional relationship that looms and grows among her adult children. (Gist) Laura, Amanda, Tom, and Jim resort to various escape mechanisms to avoid reality. Laura, fearful of being denigrated as inferior by virtue of her innate inability to walk, is shy and detaches herself from the unfeeling modern world. Amanda tries every means to integrate her into society, but to no avail. She sends her to business school and invites a gentle man caller to dinner. She is both unable to cope with the contemporary world’s mechanization represented by the speed test in typing and unable to make new acquaintances or friends due to her immense inhibition with people. Her life is humdrum and uneventful, yet it is full of dreams and inundated with memories. Whenever the outside world threatens Laura, she seeks solace and retreats to her glass animal world and old phonograph records. Amanda, her mother hints at the alternative of matrimony for fiasco in business careers and Laura â€Å"utters a startled, doubtful laugh. She reaches quickly for a piece of glass.† (Williams, ). The glass menagerie becomes her tactile consolation. The little glass ornaments represent Laura’s self and characterize her fragility and delicate beauty. In particular, the glass unicorn greatly symbolizes her. As the unicorn is different from all the other glass horses, it adds a unique quality and virtual â€Å"freakishness† t o her very characteristics (Kapcsos). Laura’s physical handicap differentiates her from others. She is just as easily broken as the glass unicorn is as unique. She instantly regresses, just as it appears that Laura finally overcomes her shyness and hypersensitivity with Jim, the gentleman caller. Jim accidentally bumps into the unicorn, as it falls and breaks. The unicorn no longer retains its unique quality. To comfort Laura, he kisses her and then shatters her hopes and dreams by telling her he is engaged. Both Laura and the glass menagerie break upon exposure to the outside world. Laura offers Jim her broken unicorn, symbolizing her broken heart that Jim will take with him. She is unable to cope with the truth and once again retreats to her fantasy world of glass figurines and Victrola records. Laura can only live a brief moment in reality. Amanda obsesses over her past. The moment Tom or Laura worry her, she uses her Mississippi Delta childhood memories like a cooling balm. She flashes back to her days dancing at the governor’s ball in Jackson, Mississippi and recalls the gentlemen’s â€Å"chivalric nature† during her youth. (Ghiotto) She constantly reminds Tom and Laura about that â€Å"one Sunday afternoon in Blue Mountain† when she receives seventeen gentlemen callers (Williams, 148). The reader is not confident that this actually occurs. However, it is clear that despite its possible falsity, Amanda has come to believe it. She refuses to acknowledge that her daughter is crippled and refers to her handicap as â€Å"a little defecthardly noticeable† (Williams, 157). Only for brief moments does she ever admit that her daughter is â€Å"crippled† and then she resorts back to denial. Moreover, Amanda does not perceive anything realistically. While she has not met him yet, she be lieves that Jim is the man that will rescue Laura. As Laura nervously awaits Jim’s arrival, Amanda tells her, â€Å"You couldn’t be satisfied with just sitting home† (Williams, 192). Yet, Laura prefers that. Amanda cannot distinguish reality from illusion. Amanda dresses in the same girlish frock she wore on the day she met their father. Upon Jim’s arrival, she reverts to her childish, giddy days of entertaining gentlemen callers. Amanda chooses to live in the past. How Moods Are Affected By The Sun EssayAlthough Jim pulls himself into the Wingfield’s illusory world, he sustains his reality senses. This accounts for why Jim is such a â€Å"stumble john† in the Wingfield apartment. He is more realistic than the others and is clumsy in such a delicate world. Likewise, Laura’s fragility and hypersensitivity prevent her from participating in the outside world, a world that is harsh and brutal. Just as Jim is clumsy in Laura’s world, Laura is clumsy in Jim’s world, as she slips and falls on the fire escape and in another instance, throws up on the floor at Business School. Laura’s irrational fear of the outside explains why she cannot successfully enter the outside world. The major characters in this play are so warped and their lives so distorted and perverted by fantasies that each is left with only broken fragments of what might have been. Accordingly, Judith Thompson, in Tennessee Williams: Memory, Myth , and Symbol, believes that memory is the avenue Williams uses to approach the collective unconscious. Through Tom’s recollections, Williams demonstrates how powerful memories revolve around characters whose actions reflect the inner turmoil of the person doing the remembering. Thompson states that Williams’ characters are representatives of a modern suffering humanity, victimized by their own conflicting drives and desires and existentially alienated from a world become a metaphysical ‘heap of broken images’ (11). These representatives form the constituency of Tom’s consciousness; the suffering in each character reflects Tom’s pain. Along with this, Williams reveals that one’s inability to communicate functionally in meaningful ways with other human beings is one of the modern life’s most tragic situations. His interpretation of familial love, shattered hopes, frustration to the point of rage, entrapment, and ultimate guilt throughout The Glass Menagerie depicts each character’s gloom and futile dreams. Tom, Laura, and Amanda seem to believe that escape is possible. Inevitably, no character makes a clean break from the situation at hand. Perhaps Tennessee Williams conveys a message that running away is not a means to solving life’s problems. One’s only escape in life is to solve their problems, not to avoid them. Gist, Richard. The Glass Menagerie 5 April 1997. *http://saber.towson.edu/gist/glass.html*. Ghiotto, Chubby. â€Å"The Glass Menagerie.† Alligator Online 5 March 1998. 15 March 1998 *http://hipp.gator.net/glass_alligator_review.html*. Ng, Ben. â€Å"Dreams and the Notion of Escape in the Glass Menagerie.† Home page. May 1999 *http://web.hku.hk/h9818830/EngLit3.html*. Kapcsos, Kristal. â€Å"The Glass Menagerie.† Online posting. 13 Nov. 1997. The Glass Menagerie 21 Nov. 1997 *http://www.mccnic.mohave.az.us/wcb/schools/NMC/dl/dtimpson/1/forums/forum12/me†¦/26.html*. Rasky, Harry. Tennessee Williams: A Portrait in Laughter and Lamentation. New York: Dodd, Mead Co., 1986. Thompson, Judith J. Tennessee Williams’ Plays: Memory, Myth, and Symbol. New York: Peter Lang, 1989. Williams, Tennessee. â€Å"The Glass Menagerie.† The Theatre of Tennessee Williams. Vol. 1. New York: New Directions, 1990. Bibliography: