The Glass Menagerie is a psychological drama by Tennessee Williams that takes place in St. Louis. It focuses on the Wingfield family - mother Amanda, son Tom who acts as the narrator, and daughter Laura. The story revolves around Amanda's attempt to set Laura up with a gentleman caller, Jim O'Connor, who was an old schoolmate of Tom's. However, Laura is painfully shy and withdrawn. The evening with Jim highlights the underlying tensions and conflicts between the characters as each pursues their own desires and struggles with reality.

2. The Glass Menagerie
By
Tennessee Williams

3. About the Play
• American Drama.
• Title itself is a Symbol.
• Action – St Louis (Town in Southern Part of
America).
• Memory Play.
• Tom – Narrator and Son of Amanda.
• Four Character.
• One invisible Character – Mr. Wingfield
• Psychological Drama.

4. Major Characters
• Amanda – Mother.
• Laura – Daughter.
• Tom – Son.
• Jim ‘O’ Conner – Gentleman Caller (Amanda’s
Dream Gentleman Caller for her Daughter).

5. Minor Character
• Mr. Wingfield

8. Tom Introducing Jim
• Tom and Jim were School Mates.
• Jim was the class Hero.
• Basketball Player, Class Leader, Lead Choir etc.
• In job Tom has a friendly terms with Jim only.
• Tom remembering his past glory.
• Jim also got affection with Tom to work along
with other workers in warehouse.
• Tom always wrote poetry.
• Jim gave Tom a Nickname “Shakespeare”

9. Amanda’s Preparation
• Wingfield apartment looks so beautiful.
• Amanda make the apartment for the gentleman caller.
• Amanda dress so beautiful like girlish outfit from her
youth.
• This dress was used by her for going to any parties.
• She also speak and compare her youthful life with
jonquil flowers (Ornamental Flowers).
• The story ends sadly due to Mr.Wingfield, Tom and
Laura

10. Laura’s Fearness
• Laura first time hear the name of the gentleman
caller.
• The name was Jim ‘O’ Conner.
• Jim was also the schoolmate of Laura.
• She got terrified by seeing Jim.
• She will not come to table – Laura said to
Amanda.
• Doorbell rings Laura got afraid.
• Finally she let the two men to come in and after
being introduced to Jim.

11. Conversation – Jim & Tom
• Jim constantly talks about the self – improvement courses
which he involved.
• Jim convince Tom to join in public speaking course but he
was uninterested.
• Tom responds – he prepared for change.
• Tom always talk about movies and adventure.
• He tells Jim about his plan to join the Merchant Seaman.
• Tom settle all dues to Merchant seaman instead of paying
EB bill.
• He plan to leave St.Louis.
• Amanda enters the living room dressed like a southern
young girl and begins to talk to Jim.

12. Laura’s Refusal
• Tom call Laura for supper but she refuses to
come.
• Amanda, Tom and Jim sitting down for dinner.
• Laura in the living room she was lying on the
sofa and trying not to cry.

14. Conflicts
• Conflict araise from Amanda – After marriage.
• Conflict is in Triangular Shape
• Conflicts are not same.
• Conflicts in human relationship.
AMANDA
LAURA TOM

15. Three Persons Conflicts
• Tom’s Conflict was to become a poet,
adventurous person like his father and escape
from hard reality.
• Amanda’s Conflict was Motherly Conflict.
• Laura’s Conflict was her own world i.e The
Glass Menagerie.

16. War and Irony
• A Tug of War between Amanda and Laura.
• Laura became total failure in that Tug of War.
• The irony was the three members i.e Amanda,
Laura and Tom were lived in a same room.
• The main Reason for Amanda’s family failure
was illusion.
• Her family didn’t know about the real world.