GLASSMANEGERIE

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The glass menagerie
The Glass Menagerie is a memory play written by Tennessee Williams which features characters from his life; his mother and his mentally fragile sister. Williams was raised for the most part by his mother as his father was rarely around.
The play’s actions are drawn from the memories of Tom Wingfield, the narrator as well as a character. Tom’s father ran out on his father, and they have only received one postcard from him since then. Tom explains that the play is his memories being re-told. The play does not have the traditional story-line. Instead, scenes are selected to show the audience what Tom went through. He tells us something about his life by recalling certain scenes from his past. His memories of his mother are mostly of her dominating his life. We can see that he is overcome by her continuous demands on his daily life (Williams, 45). Amanda is always remembering her early life when she would be courted by fine gentlemen.
Amanda’s nostalgia for the good times puts pressure on her children. She tells Laura to be nice and pretty to attract callers even though Laura does not want any. Laura drops out of school something that shocks Amanda as her hope for perfect lives withers. She asks Tom to help her look for a gentleman caller for Laura and invite him for dinner. The caller turns out to be Jim, her high school crush and the only boy she ever liked. Laura gets sick during dinner and Jim is asked to keep her company. Jim is attracted to her and they even get to kiss.

He, however, reveals that he is engaged. Amanda blames Tom and accuses him of trying to play a trick on them. The play comes to an end with Tom, years later, thinking about his sister whom he will never forget.
Work cited
Williams, Tennessee, and Tony Kushner. The glass menagerie. New Directions Publishing, 2011.