This play I would call tragic drama. All of the character problems were formed from deep psychological issues. I really enjoyed this play even though it was depressing, a couple of points gave me hope but then let me down again. That's mostly what kept me interested. To me all the family wanted was happiness and the tragic part was they never got it.
The first character in the play is Tom Wingfield, he seems to be in his late 20's, and he works in a factory but aspires to be a poet/writer. He supports his "crippled" sister and mother because his father left them at a young age. He has a comic relief to his sad life, his dream is to get away and see the world but , he can't do that because of the obligations that landed in his hands from his fathers leaving. He is very aggravated at his mother, due to her constant nagging, telling him what to do and when to do it but, what she doesn't realize is that he is staying for her benefit not his. .
The next character in the play is the mother, Amanda Wingfield she is extremely overwhelming and pushy, as you know, to her son. She is also constantly protecting her daughter from reality at the same time without realizing she was treating her daughter like she was good for nothing.
Then comes lovely Laura Wingfield the innocent hurt child even though she is grown. The only happiness she has is in her glass menagerie. She is very quiet and never voices her opinion. Laura is always making sure her mother is happy and not distressed. When she was younger she wore a brace on her leg so, throughout her life that made her very insecure.
The story takes place in a small apartment with Tom bringing home the income and, Laura is supposedly going to business school because in her mother's eyes that is the only way Laura can succeed. In actuality Laura dropped out after the first week. When the mother found out she felt betrayed. She knew there was nothing left for Laura, if she didn't have an education; then she had the idea to find her a gentlemen caller.
