Friday, October 18, 2013

What are some predictions for the future of each character (Amanda, Laura, Tom, and Jim) in Williams' The Glass Menagerie?

The Glass Menagerie follows the closely intertwined lives of Amanda Wingfield and her adult children, Tom and Laura. Jim, Tom's coworker and Laura's former classmate, joins the family for dinner and the play continues by delving into the illusions each of the four main characters uses to survive in a harsh reality. While the play itself ends on a somber note with Tom leaving his family, as Amanda always feared he would, and Jim admitting that he is engaged and unable to court Laura, the final scene is very open-ended. This open-endedness has resulted in significant speculation on the future of each of the main characters.
Laura and Jim
Towards the end of the play, Jim tells Laura that she should be more confident in herself before kissing her. Although he soon after apologizes and admits that he is engaged, the depth of the conversation shared by these two characters gives reason to suggest that they might reconnect in the future. Jim does not seem fully happy in his relationship with his fiancee, and he is so taken with Laura's gentle spirit and kindness that it is conceivable that he will have a change of heart and pursue a relationship with her in the future. The play closes before we can determine what the impact of Tom's departure will have on the family, but it is certain that Laura and Amanda will continue to search for someone who can provide for them. The play ends on a somewhat hopeful note with Laura blowing out the candles, which is often a literary symbol for making a wish. In the future, Laura's wish for a stable life with Jim or someone else who appreciates her for who she is could come true.
Amanda
The play ends with Amanda's fantasy of Laura living the life she previously led as a sheltered Southern belle being shattered. It is heavily implied that she will continue to retreat into this fantasy world, remaining unable to accept the fact that Laura is disabled and she no longer belongs to the world of glamor and sophistication she grew up in. If Todd's abandonment forces Amanda to stand on her own, she may once again become part of reality and find her own way in the world. If not, it is likely that she will continue turning inward to her memories and that Todd will replace her ex-husband as the person she blames, somewhat rightly, for her sufferings in life.
Todd
As the primary character in the play, Todd's future is easier to speculate about than his family's and Jim's futures. At the end of the play, Todd leaves to pursue a career as a Merchant Marine, but guilt and memories of the family he left behind plague his new career from the beginning. It is reasonable to speculate that, given what we know of Todd's character, he will eventually return to his mother and sister. The Glass Menagerie is an autobiographical account of Tennessee Williams' own life and struggle to build a future for himself, despite being haunted by the needs of his family and his disabled sister. Williams viewed his sister as both a source of guilt and inspiration in his own career, so it is likely that Todd will develop a similar perspective as he continues through life.
As a whole, it is likely that the future for Todd, Amanda and Laura will be mixed with sadness as well as triumph. Todd's choice to leave will either be a catalyst for Amanda and Laura to carve out futures of their own or to become lost in their fantasies forever. Amanda's fantasy world is the decadence of her past, while Laura's is in her collection of glass animals and records. In this sense, Todd's future is far more certain than that of the two women in the play. His ability to move through the world as an able-bodied man, capable of controlling his own destiny, makes his future easier to predict, while Amanda and Laura must either succumb to the habits and misfortunes that have characterized their lives throughout the play or find a way to succeed in life against the odds that are stacked against them.

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