Major Works Data Sheet

Jim
O’Conner
Mr. Wingfield
The potential suitor
brought home by Tom
for his sister Laura, Jim
is in reality Laura’ high
school crush. He is
seemingly a dream
come true for the
family, and Amanda
flirts with him in an
attempt to secure a
marriage for her
daughter Laura
The lost husband of
Amanda, and father of
Laura and Tom. His
picture hangs above the
mantel place
The drama takes place in the Wingfield’s apartment
in the urban-landscape of St. Louis, MO. The
apartment is described as a part of a beehive of
apartments, better emphasizing the inhumanity of
their existence and their home, and emphasizing the
feeling of being trapped that many characters feel.
The existence of the fire escape in the apartment is a
crucial addition, as it provides a singular escape from
the set of the apartment, and foreshadows a
method of escape existing for Tom. Lights, actions
and sounds are routinely heard through the play
from the surroundings around the apartment,
emphasizing the potentiality of life and freedom that
exists outside of the apartment.
Jim is the representation of many
things. First of all, he is everything that
Amanda wants for her family, and she
finds it her goal to capture him. For
Laura, Jim embodies all of her wants
and desires, as he is everything Laura
ever wanted in high school. However,
the fact that the Amanda and Laura fail
to secure him due to another girl he has
been seeing is a representation of the
theme of thwarted hopes and dreams.
His portrait represents a lost-perfection
and lost-hope that Amanda had, as he
was a promising husband that
ultimately resulted in her struggles as a
single mother.
Hopeful, Sweet, Strong,
Capable, Successful,
Promising, Nice,
Courteous
Not Present, Lost
Setting Significance of the opening scene
Symbols
The Glass Menagerie (Specifically the Unicorn) –
These represent Laura’s fragility and yet unique
beauty. When the horn breaks, the Unicorn
becomes damaged yet beautiful (like Laura) and
ultimately she gives it to Jim
Flowers (Specifically Jonquils/Blue Roses) – This
symbol is used when describing Amanda’s past,
being beautiful in her days of southern decadence.
The Fire Escape – The singular avenue out of the
apartment, the escape represents Tom’s ability to
leave his situation and escape to the sounds and life
of the city around their apartment.
The opening of the play introduces the
audience to the family dynamics that exist
within the Wingfields. We are introduced to
Amanda as she instructs Tom regarding things
such as his eating habits and Laura regarding
how to remain pretty and wait for gentleman
callers (who Laura knows will never come).
Amanda introduces her past of being the most
called upon girl of her southern society at
Laura’s age. Finally, we watch as Amanda tells
each of her children what to do after dinner,
showing her controlling and demanding
parenting style.
Significance of the ending/closing scene
The closing scene is of the repercussions of Jim
O’Conner already being engaged and him
leaving. Amanda and Tom get in a fight, and
Amanda tells Tom that he is worthless,
incapable of taking care of his family, and that
he does not care about them. Tom ultimately
leaves, following his heart and dreams and
experiencing the world on his own. However,
he laments that he could never forget about his
sister Laura, who will always be a part of his
memory and his existence.