Character Analysis

In The Glass Menagerie, my character is Amanda. Amanda Wingfield is the mother of Laura and Tom Wingfield. She is an old woman that constantly lives in the past. She lives on and through her kids as well. Her daughter is crippled. Her son wants get away from her. However, Amanda refuses to accept that Laura is crippled and prefers to call her situation a slight physical defect. Amanda refuses to accept the fact that Tom wants to leave. Tom’s father and Amanda’s Ex-Husband left her. Amanda doesn’t want to think that Tom is just like his father. But in a way he is, he wants to leave, not just her but everything. Tom wants more in his life, wants more than what St. Louis can offer and Amanda is holding him back. Amanda doesn’t really have a job and neither does Laura so Tom is the only one that pays for everything. If he leaves, than they will have no one to support them. What will they do? Amanda knows the only reason Tom is staying is for his sister Laura. He feels responsible for her. In my eyes, Amanda is super annoying. She talks and talks and talks and talks and doesn’t stop unless someone interrupts and even than she keeps going. I see why Tom is so ken on getting out of the house. She drives me crazy too. BUt maybe Amanda needs help. She might just not be well in the head. Amanda always tells the story of her 17 gentlemen callers. She imagines that gentlemen callers will appear out of thin air for Laura and show endless amount of admiration. Laura is not her mom. She is shy and keeps to herself and Amanda is trying to make her into something she isn’t She basically tells Tom he has to stay tell Laura finds a man so the that man will replace her financial support. Everything always comes back to Amanda and what she needs. She is selfish and not a good mother. She could be a great mother but she needs a lot of help.