Some of the staging techniques Williams employed in the
play, such as the music, lighting, and the screen, make it visually compelling to
experience, and there are passages of dialog that are just hauntingly beautiful, such as
Tom's final speech. The enduring appeal of the drama, however, surely lies in its
universal, timeless themes and the truths they explore. Love, loss, pain, fear, dreams,
personal longing--all of these are felt by the characters and all of them speak to an
audience, at any time.
Beneath Amanda's irritating,
controlling manner, the audience can feel her fear and despair. Laura's pain and
emotional isolation are poignant, especially in her scene with Jim O'Connor. Tom's
dreams and desires speak to anyone who has ever dreamed and longed for a different life;
his torment is also a familiar human feeling, as he is trapped by circumstances and
responsibility that destroy a little of his spirit every day. His final speech as
narrator is emotionally powerful and affecting. Who is not, in one way or another,
haunted by the past?
The play remains relevant because the
humanity of the characters is relevant. There is universal truth in their suffering that
does not change with the passage of time.
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