The glass menagerie
Tennessee Williams
Play Summary
It’s the 1930’s and in a back alley of St. Louis, Missouri lives the Wingfield family: the mother Amanda, the daughter Laura and the son Tom.
Throughout the play, alongside the role of ‘Tom the son’, who has an active participation in the story’s plot, there is the role of ‘Tom the narrator’.
“The play is memory”, in which the heroes struggle to survive just by the salary of ‘Tom the son’, who works at a shoe warehouse, and Amanda’s failed attempts to sell magazine subscriptions, over the phone.
Amanda is never satisfied with her son’s service and efforts and she’s constantly asking him to try harder. The tension between them is strong.
Because of her physical deformity, Laura has abandoned the outside world. She remains hidden in the family’s house, taking care of her collection of glass animals.
Father’s abandonment, which took place 16 years ago, still wanders in the house like a ghost, through his picture that hangs on the wall.
Amanda tries desperately to find a suitor for Laura, so that through a ‘successful marriage’, Amanda herself will be financially secured.
The beginning of the end, for all the characters of the story, comes when ‘Tom the Son’ invites at their house for dinner, Jim; A colleague of his from work and a potential suitor for Laura.
Before Jim departs from the Wingfield house, he announces to everyone, that he will be married soon.
Amanda blames her son Tom for making a fool out of her. She blames him for ‘living in a dream’.
Laura returns to her isolation.
‘Tom the son’ leaves, as he has already decided before the coming of Jim, abandoning both mother and sister, never returning home again.
Throughout the play, alongside the role of ‘Tom the son’, who has an active participation in the story’s plot, there is the role of ‘Tom the narrator’.
“The play is memory”, in which the heroes struggle to survive just by the salary of ‘Tom the son’, who works at a shoe warehouse, and Amanda’s failed attempts to sell magazine subscriptions, over the phone.
Amanda is never satisfied with her son’s service and efforts and she’s constantly asking him to try harder. The tension between them is strong.
Because of her physical deformity, Laura has abandoned the outside world. She remains hidden in the family’s house, taking care of her collection of glass animals.
Father’s abandonment, which took place 16 years ago, still wanders in the house like a ghost, through his picture that hangs on the wall.
Amanda tries desperately to find a suitor for Laura, so that through a ‘successful marriage’, Amanda herself will be financially secured.
The beginning of the end, for all the characters of the story, comes when ‘Tom the Son’ invites at their house for dinner, Jim; A colleague of his from work and a potential suitor for Laura.
Before Jim departs from the Wingfield house, he announces to everyone, that he will be married soon.
Amanda blames her son Tom for making a fool out of her. She blames him for ‘living in a dream’.
Laura returns to her isolation.
‘Tom the son’ leaves, as he has already decided before the coming of Jim, abandoning both mother and sister, never returning home again.
Theatrological Elaboration: Maria Metropoulos
Psychotheatrological Analysis: Maria Metropoulos/Panos Mavitzis
Psychotheatrological Analysis: Maria Metropoulos/Panos Mavitzis