The Glass Menagerie - Amanda Wingfield
If there is a signature character type that marks Tennessee
-Williams’s dramatic work, it is undeniably that of the faded Southern
belle. Amanda is a clear representative of this type. In general, a
Tennessee Williams faded belle is from a prominent Southern family,
has received a traditional upbringing, and has suffered a reversal of
economic and social fortune at some point in her life. Like Amanda,
these women all have a hard time coming to terms with their new status
in society—and indeed, with modern society in general, which
disregards the social distinctions that they were taught to value.
Their relationships with men and their families are turbulent, and
they staunchly defend the values of their past. As with Amanda, their
maintenance of genteel manners in very ungenteel surroundings can
appear tragic, comic, or downright grotesque. Amanda is the play’s
most extroverted and theatrical character, and one of modern American
drama’s most coveted female roles (the acclaimed stage actress
Laurette Taylor came out of semi-retirement to play the role in the
original production, and a number of legendary actresses, including
Jessica Tandy, have since taken on the role).
Amanda’s constant nagging of Tom and her refusal to see Laura for who
she really is are certainly reprehensible, but Amanda also reveals a
willingness to sacrifice for her loved ones that is in many ways
unparalleled in the play. She subjects herself to the humiliating
drudgery of subscription sales in order to enhance Laura’s marriage
prospects, without ever uttering so much as a word of complaint. The
safest conclusion to draw is that Amanda is not evil but is deeply
flawed. In fact, her flaws a...
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...r we will see that she is afraid of what will happen to a
young girl of Laura’s position who is not married. Thus, Amanda’s
emotions are mixed at present but will become clearer as the play
progresses.
Note how Amanda plays the revelation scene for all its theatrical
effect. This is also a part of her character and prepares us for her
giddy actions when the gentleman caller comes.
One of Amanda’s admirable qualities is her determination. Once she has
set her mind to a task, she goes about it with a determination that
neither of her children possesses. It would be impossible to imagine
either Tom or Laura dedicating themselves to a task with such complete
zeal as does Amanda.
It is, however, this dedication which makes her appear hateful to her
children. It is as though both, especially Tom, were still youths
whose every action had to be supervised.
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Amanda is also well characterized by the glass menagerie. The glass sits in a case, open for display and inspection for all. Amanda try’s to portray herself as a loving mother, doing everything she can for her children, and caring nothing for herself, when in fact, she is quite selfish and demanding. Amanda claims that she devotes her life to her children, and that she would do anything for them, but is very suspicious of Tom’s activities, and continually pressures Tom, trying to force him in finding a gentleman caller for Laura, believing that Laura is lonely and needs a companion, perhaps to get married. Like the glass, her schemes are very transparent, and people can see straight through them to the other side, where ...
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Amanda Wingfield is mother of Tom and Laura. She is a middle-aged southern belle whose husband has abandoned her. She spends her time reminiscing about the past and nagging her children. Amanda is completely dependent on her son Tom for finical security and holds him fully responsible for her daughter Laura's future. Amanda is obsessed with her past as she constantly reminds Tom and Laura of that " one Sunday afternoon in Blue Mountain when she once received seventeen gentlemen callers" (pg.32). The reader cannot even be sure that this actually happened. However, it is clear that despite its possible falsity, Amanda has come to believe it. Amanda also refuses to acknowledge that her daughter Laura is crippled and refers to her handicap as " a little defect-hardly noticeable" (pg.45). Only for brief moments does she ever admit that her daughter is crippled and then she resorts back into to her world of denial and delusion. Amanda puts the weight of Laura's success in life on her son Tom's shoulders. When Tom finally finds a man to come over to the house for diner and meet Laura, Amanda blows the situation way out of proportion. She believes that this gentlemen caller, Jim, is going to be the man to rescue Laura. When in fact neither herself nor Laura has even met this man Jim yet. She tries to explain to Laura how to entertain a gentleman caller; she says-talking about her past " They knew how to entertain their gentlemen callers. It wasn't enough for a girl to be possessed of a pretty face and a graceful figure although I wasn't slighted in either respect.
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Amanda was a woman who lives in a world of fantasy and reality. In the past memory and the future of the fantasy made Amanda very strong, but in the face of reality she was fragile. Just like Tom used to explain “I give you truth in the
The Glass Menagerie is a play written by Tennessee Williams in 1945. The play takes place in the Wingfield’s apartment in St. Louis. Tom is the protagonist in the play and he stays at home with his mother Amanda and his sister Laura. Tom’s Father left the family when he was younger leaving him as the man of the house. His mother Amanda expects him to do everything a man would do. This included working, paying bills, and taking care of herself and Laura. Laura is disabled and she doesn’t work therefore Tom is left providing for his whole family. Being abandoned by Mr. Wingfield left the family distraught. No one seemed to be able to cope with the fact that he was gone even though he left many years ago. Amanda is constantly treating Tom like a child. She tells him how to eat, when to eat, and what he should and should not wear. Tom eventually gets fed up with everything. He can’t stand his factory job, the responsibility of being the man or being treated like a child by his mother. Tom decides to follow in his father’s footsteps and leave the family. It seems as if Tom thinks that running away from his problems will make them go away but things didn’t turn out that way. Although the play was written many years ago, young adults in this day and age can relate to Tom and his actions. The main theme in the play is escape. All of the character use escape in some way. Laura runs to her glass menagerie or phonographs when she can’t handle a situation, Amanda seems to live in the past, and Tom constantly runs away when things aren’t going his way. Escape is a short term fix for a bigger problem. Running away may seem like the easiest thing to do, but in the end the problem is still there and it may be unforgettable. As time goes on esc...