Unicorns, I Love Them

Jim:  "Poor little fellow, he must feel sort of lonesome."

Laura:  "Well, if he does he doesn't complain about it.  He stays on a shelf with some horses that don't have horns and all of them seem to get along nicely together."  ("The Glass Menagerie" Scene 7 - p. 1281)

A glass unicorn is the perfect choice for this play.  Unicorns are mythical creatures that only possess one difference from horses - a horn.  In the excerpt, Jim worries that the unicorn will not fit in with the other horses because he is so different; however, Laura tells Jim not to worry because the unicorn doesn't seem to mind.  The unicorn is a symbol for Laura as a person.  Laura also has a visible difference that makes her different from the rest of society - her physical handicap.  Just as the unicorn, Laura does not feel self-conscious about her handicap anymore because she has become accustomed to her way of life.  Besides her physical handicap, Laura also possesses a mental illness which prevents her from moving forward in her life.  This does not allow her to fit in just as the unicorn's horn will never disappear.  Because she is so different, Laura feels lonely and becomes attached to her glass collection.    Jim attempts to coax Laura out of her shy state, but Laura soon returns to her own world when Jim tells Laura that he is engaged.  In my opinion, Jim is a pretty big jerk. 

Speaking of unicorns, here is one of my favorite unicorn moments of all time!