The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams Characters Amanda Wingfield

The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams

Characters • Amanda Wingfield: A woman abandoned by her husband about 16 years ago, is trying to raise her children with almost no money. She admits in the book that her devotion to her childrens well being only has made her slightly cruel. She remembers being a graceful southern belle and misses those days. • Laura Wingfield: Amanda's daughter. She is slightly crippled and has a mental condition. • Tom Wingfield: Amanda's son. He works in a warehouse but aspires to be a writer. He feels responsible for his family but wishes he didn’t have to take care of them. • Jim O'Connor: A workmate of Tom’s and somewhat friend of Laura's from high school, He is invited over to the Wingfields' house for dinner with the intent of being Laura's first gentleman caller. He seems like a dream come true for the Wingfields.

Summary • Amanda’s husband abandoned the family a long time ago Amanda’s biggest wish is for her daughter to experience her own southern belle childhood. Tom works in the warehouse earning the money for the family. Laura suffers with a crippled foot and slight mental disorder. Amanda is obsessed with finding Laura a suitor.

Summary 2 • Tom invites Jim home for dinner and Laura and Jim are left alone in the candle light waiting for the electricity to come back on. During this time Laura and Jim dance together and she realizes Jim is the man she loved in high school. After the dance while they were waiting Jim confesses he’s engaged to be married and leaves.

Summary 3 • After Jim leaves Laura’s mom accuses Tom of knowing Jim is engaged and wasting money. Their mother shouts at Tom to leave again to go and just watch his movies before leaving, Tom gives a speech and never comes back.

Theme • The themes of this book would be failure of fathers or father figures, broken promises, and family failure and individual failure.