Laura Wingfield: Amanda's daughter and Tom's older sister, Laura
suffers the results of a childhood illness
which left one of her legs malformed and in a brace. As a result, Laura is painfully shy and has withdrawn herself the outside world. She is much like her beloved glass figurines: delicate and frail.
What illness did Laura suffer from as a child?
In By the Shores of Silver Lake, Laura attributes Mary's blindness to
scarlet fever
: “Mary and Carrie and baby Grace and Ma had all had scarlet fever.
What is wrong with Laura in The Glass Menagerie?
Laura Wingfield: Amanda's daughter and Tom's older sister, Laura
suffers the results of a childhood illness
which left one of her legs malformed and in a brace. As a result, Laura is painfully shy and has withdrawn herself the outside world. She is much like her beloved glass figurines: delicate and frail.
What condition does Laura have?
Migraine with
aura (also called classic migraine) is a recurring headache that strikes after or at the same time as sensory disturbances called aura. These disturbances can include flashes of light, blind spots, and other vision changes or tingling in your hand or face.
What does Laura represent in The Glass Menagerie?
The glass unicorn in Laura's collection—significantly, her favorite figure—represents
her peculiarity
. As Jim points out, unicorns are “extinct” in modern times and are lonesome as a result of being different from other horses. Laura too is unusual, lonely, and ill-adapted to existence in the world in which she lives.
How does Amanda make extra money?
Amanda tries (obviously without much success, considering the family's difficult economic circumstances) to
sell magazine subscriptions over the telephone
to earn income.
Why did Mr Wingfield leave in The Glass Menagerie?
We do not know for certain why he left, but as Tom explains, “
He was a telephone man who gave up his job with the telephone company
and skipped the light fantastic out of town.” Amanda recalls how charming he was when he courted her, but always grows wistful for the more noble gentleman callers she turned down to marry …
What advice does Jim give Laura?
Jim explains to Laura that
their kiss can't lead anywhere
. He does not apologize for the kiss.
Who is the main character in Glass Menagerie?
| The Glass Menagerie | Written by Tennessee Williams | Characters Amanda Wingfield Tom Wingfield Laura Wingfield Jim O'Connor Mr. Wingfield | Date premiered 1944 | Place premiered Chicago |
|---|
What is a menagerie in The Glass Menagerie?
The Glass Menagerie is
a memory play
, and its action is drawn from the memories of the narrator, Tom Wingfield. Tom is a character in the play, which is set in St. Louis in 1937. He is an aspiring poet who toils in a shoe warehouse to support his mother, Amanda, and sister, Laura.
What does Laura from The Glass Menagerie look like?
Laura is
as rare and peculiar as a blue rose or a unicorn
, and she is as delicate as a glass figurine. Other characters seem to assume that, like a piece of transparent glass, which is colorless until light shines upon it, Laura can take on whatever color they wish.
What did Laura lie to her mom about?
After Amanda demands an answer, Laura admits to her mother why she has lied about
going to business school
: Laura fears disappointing her mother. Laura's reference to art reminds us that she has visited the museum.
Who breaks Laura's glass unicorn?
This exchange, also from Scene Seven, occurs not long after the previous one. After persuading Laura to dance with him,
Jim
accidentally bumps the table on which the glass unicorn rests, breaking the horn off of the figurine.
What advice is Jim giving Tom in Scene Six?
Jim encourages
Tom to join him in the public speaking course he is taking
. Jim is sure that he and Tom were both meant for executive jobs and that “social poise” is the only determinant of success. However, Jim also warns Tom that, if Tom does not wake up, the boss will soon fire Tom at the warehouse.
What does Laura give Jim before he leaves after dinner?
He gives her
a glass of wine
. Tongue-tied at first, Laura soon relaxes in Jim's engaging presence. He talks to her about the Century of Progress exhibition in Chicago and calls her an “old-fashioned” girl. She reminds him that they knew each other in high school.
What is the near to Wingfield apartment in Glass Menagerie?
The Wingfield apartment faces
an alley in a lower-middle-class St. Louis tenement
. There is a fire escape with a landing and a screen on which words or images periodically appear.
