Escapism in Society: The Glass Menagerie Readers everywhere will love the book The Glass Menagerie as readers steps back in time to the hey day of grand staircases, and formal attire. Competition is rampant and the quest to become successful is what turns this story into a bit of an adventure. At first glance it would seem as if their lives are normal, but Amanda’s “impulse to preserve her single-parent family seems as familiar as the morning newspaper” (Presley 53) changes that dynamic to a little strange. As their friends the Wingfields go, they are just the typical family struggling to get by. The biggest problem that stems from this family, however, is their inability to communicate effectively with each other. Instead of communicating …show more content…
But just look around you and you will see lots of people as disappointed as you are.” (76). As this conversation unfolds you notice the dialog between Jim to Tom change, as they describe their struggles and the inability to live up to their high expectations. Tom of all the characters, is the most interested in living the life in much the same way a successful person would. Unfortunately for him, he has the characteristics to become a great person, but he is not liked. Let alone his morals are brought into questions at multiple times during the …show more content…
Some would say this is a way to cope with the everyday stresses that occur throughout her day-to-day problems. If she continues coping through life’s basic problems, she ultimately will manipulates her life to see and hear what she wants, but nothing else. This is noted when Amanda discusses her daughter Laura with Tom and she states, “In what way is she peculiar-may I ask?” (Williams 713). Amanda refuses to face the reality that Laura is different from other girls, even though she “lives in a world of little glass ornaments” (Williams 713). Amanda is far from perfect either. Herself living a life of self-made, grandiose illusions. Throughout all of this, Amanda states that Laura’s differences are all to her advantage, but with Laura’s self-isolation and introvertedness, it’s hardly a characteristic that can be taken advantage of. Amanda also toys with the illusion that her crippled daughter is going to have a plentiful assortment of gentlemen callers at her door. According to how Amanda fantasizes about it, Laura’s role is that of a southern belle and she oddly orders her to stay fresh and pretty-for the gentlemen callers. In twenty-six years, Laura has yet to manage to get a gentleman caller, but Amanda persistence is clearly delusional as she is certain only a flood or tornado could keep them from coming. Every time someone mentions Laura’s disability, Amanda is quick to