Scenes 3 & 4

The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams

Tom's character becomes more present in the external conflict between him and his mother. Tom has a dream to be a writer and points out to his mother that he goes to work everyday to do a job he hates. I think to a certain extent Amanda has a point to say he is disrespectful. However, Tom is disrespectful in his treatment of his mother, not for the reasons Amanda says he is disrespectful. Amanda, as Tom's mother should be more aware of her son's dreams.

Amanda's main concern with Laura is to find her a gentleman caller. She even brings Tom into helping her find a caller for Laura. She makes a deal with Tom when she says, "I mean that as soon as Laura has got somebody to take care of her, married, a home of her own, independent - why, then you'll be free to go wherever you please, on land, on sea, whichever way the wind blows you!" (1253). I cannot even imagine how Laura feels about her family so set on setting her up with a man. Her confidence is already fairly low, would this not make her feel worse about herself? I would think that knowing her family has to set her up to get a man would make her feel worse, but time will tell.