synopsis:

The Glass Menagerie is a poetic drama centering around a depression era family living in St. Louis. It is narrated by Tom Wingfield, who introduces the play about himself, his mother Amanda and his sister Laura, as memory. Each character in the play lives in an illusory world that collides disastrously with reality, a reality without a father in the house and with little hope. Laura has a slight physical disability that has left her socially paralyzed, unable to even attend a business college without incident. Amanda escapes her current situation by remembering her days as a Southern Belle, and Tom lives out the adventure and excitement missing from his real life by constant trips to the movies.amanda attempts to salvage their situation by finding a husband for Laura, and encourages Tom to invite a nice young man from the warehouse over for dinner to meet Laura. Tom finally does this, and Amanda sets off into a whirlwind of preparations. When the gentleman caller, Jim O'Conner, arrives he turns out to be a high school crush who figures prominently in Laura's dream world. Laura is sick with nerves and is unable to come to the table. A power outage occurs at the end of dinner and Jim offers to check on Laura.

The final scene takes place in candlelight as Jim encourages Laura to find her way in the world and not be so preoccupied with her physical differences. He tells her she's pretty and dances with her, accidentally breaking a piece of her precious glass collection. The proves to be an ominous portent as Jim, after kissing Laura, reveals that he is happily engaged and must leave to pick up his fiancée at the train station. Laura's world is shattered by this revelation, and Amanda rails at Tom for bringing an engaged man to meet Laura. In a fury, Tom storms out of the house never to return.

The final moments of the play find Amanda attempting to comfort her daughter while Tom tells the audience of his wandering life after leaving his mother and sister. He cannot, however, forgive himself for what he did to Laura and is haunted by his inability to rescue her from her private world.

on this book:

The Glass Menagerie, originally titled The Gentleman Caller, is one of the great plays of the American theatre, focussing on emotionally and economically maimed individuals. In the play's action, they become powerful images of human alienation and despair.several movies were made, based on this play. the first came out in 1950.