Everyone brings their past into their present lives. Sometimes we have a tendency to let it run and negatively affect our lives as well as the lives of others. The Glass Menagerie written by Tennessee Williams clearly shows that the past can sometimes dominate one's life, and its surroundings. Amanda lives in the past and as a result fails as a mother yet she still sincerely loves her children.
Amanda so frequently tells stories to her children of being a "southern belle". She can not help but to cut off her children while they are talking to tell her never-ending stories. "Amanda never stops reminding her children of her own more affluent past". Reminiscing or "dajavu" is a recognizable characteristic, however, it is an obsession with Amanda. "Alice Griffin argues that Amanda clings to an illusion of herself as a Beautiful belle in an elegant Old South, where by her own account she was pursued by countless suitors." (Griffin-61). Amanda is almost given over to memories of her past life of happiness as a young southern Debutante in Blue Mountain, Mississippi. In Scene 1 of The Glass Menagerie Amanda nearly cuts off Tom to her story of how on one Sunday she had seventeen "gentlemen callers" come over to her house. Amanda then unconsciously goes on forever about her past life, which her children, Tom and Laura, aren't very inquisitive of. If Amanda would .
spend half the time with her kids that she spends rambling of her past, her children.
would listen and appreciate her more.
Clayton 2.
Amanda has not forgotten and will probably never forget her past so she makes finding a "gentlemen caller" for Laura her mission. In Scene 1 Amanda tells .
Laura to resume her seat in the Living room so she will be pretty for the "gentlemen caller", yet there aren't any gentlemen callers coming for Laura. This starts Amanda talking about her past and it is obviously an oft-repeated story for Toms says, "I know what's coming!".