https://padlet.com/kathryn_fulcher1/415596znx35r Wider reading en-us 2017-01-11 09:28:16 UTC 2025-10-08 10:31:00 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Terminator.png kathryn_fulcher1 https://padlet.com/kathryn_fulcher1/415596znx35r/wish/146457010 Summary: The Glass Menagerie is a memory play that focuses on Tom's (the narrator) recollection of his mother Amanda and his sister Laura. In the play, Amanda Wingfield, a faded southern belle shares a small apartment in St Louis with her son Tom, who is in his early twenties, and his older sister, Laura. She yearns for the days where she was pursued by "gentlemen callers". She also worries about her daughter finding a husband and obsesses over this as she is very shy. Tom, who works in a warehouse, brings home an acquaintance from work called Jim for dinner. Laura and Jim have a nice evening, however it turns out that he is engaged to be married. Laura gives him the gift of the glass unicorn that he broke and he leaves. When Amanda hears what happened she lashes out at Tom, although she knows that Tom didn't know that Jim was already engaged. Tom speaks at the end of the play saying that he left home afterward and never went back. He asks Laura to blow out the candles at the end of the play.
Similarities to A Streetcar Named Desire: Amanda is very similar to Blanche in that she is a faded southern belle who had many male suitors in her younger days. She speaks of women knowing "how to entertain their gentlemen callers" while trying to encourage her daughter to look "fresh and pretty" for any men that come by. Tom is similar to Stanley in that he doesn't want to listen to her go on about such frivolous things. Laura is similar to Stella as she is easily bossed around by her mother like Stella is by Blanche, which can be seen in "Resume your seat, little sister". The Glass Menagerie is also alike with Streetcar as it is set in a "grim" and "murky" apartment, much the same as Stanley and Stella's home. The theme of memory can also be seen somewhat in Streetcar as Blanche often focuses on her old memories about the plantation or about her of her old husband from when she was younger.
Links to historical or biographical context: Williams grew up with a sister who he was close with, which could be reflected in The Glass Menagerie through Tom and Laura, especially as Williams' sister was mentally ill, and Laura in the play is extremely shy, so much that it inhibited her normal life. Williams also uses the character of the southern belle that he uses in Streetcar as well, that could be a result of him growing up in the American South.
Rating out of 5: I would rate The Glass Menagerie 4 out of 5 as I like that characters in it, especially Laura, as she contradicts the norms that are usually seen in that society as she doesn't need a husband to function and isn't concerned with being overly pretty to impress other people. I also think that Tom is an interesting character and narrator as he talks directly to the audience and explains the context of the play, without giving away the plot and still keeping a certain aspect of mystery. By clarifying a few points at the beginning of the play I feel as if it intrigues the audience and makes people want to see more.

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