What does the moon symbolize in The Glass Menagerie In Tennessee Williams' play The Glass Menagerie the moon symbolizes various thematic elements such as escape romance and the unattainable or elusive nature of dreams Romance and Beauty The moon often serves as a backdrop for the play's moments of romance and beauty For instance when Jim and Laura share a brief tender moment the moonlight creates a romantic setting that enhances the fantasy and escapes the reality that Laura experiences This aligns with Laura s world of glass figurines which are delicate beautiful and removed from everyday harshness Escape from Reality The moon also symbolizes the characters' desire for escape Each member of the Wingfield family longs to escape their dreary and suffocating circumstances Tom for example constantly looks out to the fire escape and dreams of a life of adventure akin to that of his absent father Tom says