The Glass Menagerie--1119 #8

The primary means of dramatic exposition in The Glass Menagerie is through dialogue, but Tom's narration clarifies that drama. Tom's asides serve as an explanation or preparation for the audience so that they are not confused by the new information in the scene. A clear example of this is at the beginning of scene 6 when Tom explains that he "had known Jim slightly since high school (1261)." The audience gains a better understanding of why Tom would invite Jim over for dinner from this explanation. Most guys wouldn't invite some random guy from work home, so it helps to know that Tom had known Jim for a while. This clarifies a past event, but narrations like Tom's at the beginning of the play explain events that have not yet happen. They prepare the audience for the upcoming scene.