Tennessee Williams’ play, The Glass Menagerie, is narrated by Tom Wingfield from his memory.
Set in St. Louis in 1937, the play centers around three main characters: Amanda Wingfield, the mother; Laura Wingfield, the sister; and Tom Wingfield, the narrator. Although Tom serves as the narrator, he has infrequent on-screen appearances. Meanwhile, Amanda takes up a significant portion of screen time and has the most dialogue.
Throughout most of the play, Laura is the focal point of conversation and is constantly on screen. Both Tom and Amanda are actively trying to find suitors for Laura. The question being posed is: who is the primary character? It is Laura herself. While it is typically the narrator who serves as the main character in many stories, this is not the case in The Glass Menagerie.
Amanda, a traditional southern woman, often reminisces about her youth when she had numerous suitors pursuing her. Amanda longs for her daughter, Laura, to experience the same attention from gentlemen callers as she did. Unfortunately, this is not the situation for Laura, as she is a timid girl dealing with a medical condition known as pleurosis.
Laura struggles with social interactions, hindering her ability to attract a potential romantic partner. Recognizing this, Tom secretly arranges for his friend Jim OConnor to come over for dinner without informing him about Laura’s presence. This way, Tom can inform his mother that he has found a suitor for Laura. On the night of the dinner, Jim and Laura are introduced by Amanda, who forcefully guides Laura to the door. Unfortunately, Laura falls ill before dinner and remains on the sofa while the others eat. Afterwards, Amanda instructs Jim to bring a drink to Laura and to watch over her.
The conversation between Laura and Jim bolsters Laura’s confidence, as they engage in a profound dialogue concerning their shared high school experiences. Nevertheless, Jim surprising kisses Laura and discloses his existing engagement, causing the shattered hopes of both Laura and Amanda. Tom narrates this tale revolving around Amanda’s quest for a suitable suitor for Laura. Amidst the narrative, Laura persists as the primary focal point.
Tom initially introduces Laura and continues to support her throughout the story, eventually admitting his constant preoccupation with her. The book’s title, The Glass Menagerie, originates from Laura’s assortment of glass figurines. Of the three main characters – Tom, Amanda, and Laura – Laura takes on the central position.
