Erika Morihiro, Jolene Oh & Ji Wan Park
Block H
The Glass Menagerie Analysis (Scene 4)
1) SUMMARY OF SCENE
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Tom returns home at 5 a.m. in the morning after spending the whole night at the movies
+ drinking
Tom drops his house keys into a crack on the fire-escape and as he rummages about in
search for his keys, Laura hears him and opens the door for him
Tom tells Laura about the fun time he had at the magic show and gives her a rainbow
colored scarf, a gift from the magician
Laura urges Tom to apologize to their mother
Tom eventually apologizes and he and Amanda eventually make up
Amanda is worried that Tom will eventually become an alcoholic like his father
She is also worried that Laura will become an “old maid” hence she wants Tom to invite
some “nice young men” from the warehouse to meet his sister
2) THEMES
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Confinement
 Tom is being confined by Amanda as she wants him to look out for his sister so long as
she’s still unmarried
 “AMANDA: But until that time you’ve got to look out for your sister. I don’t say
me because I’m old and don’t matter- I say for your sister because she’s young
and dependent.” [pg. 17]
 The Wingfield family is confined financially as they have to purchase grocery items on
credit
 “AMANDA: Just butter. Tell them to charge it.” [pg.13]
 Laura is confined to her family as her tripping at the fire escape symbolizes and
foreshadows the fact that she’ll always be dependent on them
 “LAURA: I’m all right. I slipped, but I’m all right.” [pg. 14]
 Amanda is also confined or trapped by her excessive devotion to her children as she
can’t seem to leave them alone to lead their own lives (e.g. offers breakfast to Tom and
is desperate to find a gentleman caller for Laura)
 “AMANDA: Eat a bowl of Purina…Shredded wheat biscuit?...You can’t put in a
day’s work on en empty stomach…” [pg, 15]
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Escape
 Tom “escapes” from reality by frequently going to the movies (to find adventure)
 “LAURA: Where have you been all this time?
TOM: I have been to the movies.” [pg. 12]
 Tom is confined by his family and his job at the shoe warehouse (wants to escape) and
his dream of escaping his family “without removing one nail”/ without hurting anyone of
his family members
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Erika Morihiro, Jolene Oh & Ji Wan Park
Block H
 “We nailed him into a coffin and he got out of the coffin without removing one
nail. There is a trick that would come in handy for me- get me out of this 2 by 4
situation!” [pg. 13]
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Alcoholism
 Amanda is fearful that Tom will turn out like his father; an alcoholic
 “And you-when I see you taking after his ways! Staying out late-and-well, you had
been drinking the night you were in that-terrifying condition!” [pg. 15]
 Amanda is also concerned about Laura’s future husband’s drinking habits as she
doesn’t want him to be an alcoholic; doesn’t want what has happened to her (being
abandoned by her husband) to happen to Laura as well
 “Find out one that’s clean-living- doesn’t drink and-ask him out for sister!” [pg. 17]
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Family Obligations
 According to Amanda, Tom has an obligation to stay and support the family till Laura
finds herself a husband who can take care of her and when that day comes, Tom can only
then pursue his own dreams
 “I mean that as soon as Laura has got somebody to take care of her, married, a
home of her own, independent? Why, then you’ll be free to go wherever you
please, on land, on sea, whichever way the wind blows you!” [pg. 17]
 Tom is responsible for holding his family together as Amanda is unable to do so by
herself
 “I’ve had to put up a solitary battle all these years. But you’re my right-hand
bower! Don’t fall down, don’t fail!” [pg. 14]
 Amanda believes that each of them have an obligation to support one another
 “We have to do all that we can to build ourselves up. In these trying times we live
in, all that we have to cling to is- each other…” [pg. 15]
 Amanda believes that Tom should make sacrifices and fulfill his obligations to his
family first before pursuing his own dreams (Family obligations are more important than
dreams/ambitions)
 “I know your ambitions do not lie in the warehouse, that like everybody in the
whole wide world-you’ve have to make sacrifices…” [pg. 15]
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Rituals
 Laura waits patiently for Tom to return home whenever he goes on his “adventures”
to the movies
 This is evident as Laura opens the door for Tom right when he drops his keys into
a crack on the fire-escape
 Amanda has her usual morning routine of saying “Rise and Shine” and preparing
breakfast for her children
 “TOM: Goody, goody! Pay’er back for all those ‘Rise an’ Shines’.” [pg. 13]
 Amanda forcefully tells Laura to buy butter on credit even though Laura insists that
the people at the store “make such faces” whenever she purchases items on credit
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Erika Morihiro, Jolene Oh & Ji Wan Park
Block H
(indicates that purchasing items on credit is a common occurrence for the householdfinancial constraints)
 “AMANDA: Just butter. Tell them to charge it.
“LAURA: Mother, they make such faces when I do that.” [pg. 13]
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Hopes and Plans
 Amanda is concerned about Laura’s future thus she believes that her and Tom should
start making some plans for her
 “AMANDA: We have to be making some plans and provisions for her. She’s older
than you, two years, and nothing has happened.” [pg. 17]
 Amanda is still hopeful that out there somewhere there is a gentleman caller for her
precious daughter, Laura
 “Down at the warehouse, aren’t there nice young men?” [pg. 17]
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Marriage and Love
 Amanda wants Laura to get married as soon as possible (resorts to asking Tom to find
Laura a nice man from the warehouse)
o “Down at the warehouse, aren’t there some- nice young men?...For sister! To
meet! Get acquainted!” [pg. 17]
 Amanda confesses her love for Tom’s father
 “I’ve never told you but- I loved your father…” [pg. 15]
3) STAGING DEVICES
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“Its light on her face with its aged but childish features is cruelly sharp, satirical as a
Daumier print. MUSIC UNDER: AVE MARIA” [pg. 14]
 The music is non-diagetic as it comes from outside of the scene
 Allusion to Daumier who was a French realist illustrator and painter, best known for
poking fun at the social customs of his day in satirical cartoons
 This song has a religious melody to it and this could signify the fact that despite the
arguments that she has with her children she is just doing what’s best for them
“Legend on Screen: Laura
Music: The Glass Menagerie” [pg. 15]
 The music is non-diagetic as it comes from outside of the scene
 Reminds us of how delicate Laura is and this can be compared to her glass menagerie
 This also reminds of how sensitive or delicate the topic of conversation, when it
comes to Laura, is (provides emotional emphasis)
“Legend: ‘PLANS AND PROVISIONS’. “ [pg. 16]
 Contributes towards the characterization of Laura as Amanda describes her as being
“young and dependent” hence both Amanda and Tom have to plan out her future for
her
“IMAGE ON SCREEN: SAILING VESSEL WITH JOLLY ROGER” [pg. 16]
 Foreshadows the fact that Tom will eventually leave the household to join the
Merchant Marines
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Erika Morihiro, Jolene Oh & Ji Wan Park
Block H
 Contributes towards the fact that in order for Tom “to escape from a trap he has to
act without pity” meaning that he has to be selfish and neglect his family in order to
escape
 This also creates a link between Tom and his father as in the past his father too
abandoned the family
4) DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTERIZATION
Tom
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Tom is bored of his job + family obligations; wants to experience the thrill of adventure
 goes to the movies to escape reality
 “TOM: I go to the movies because- I like adventure. Adventure is something I
don’t have much of at work, so I go to the movies.” [pg. 16]
Wants to fulfill his dreams yet he doesn’t want to hurt his family at the same time
(contrast in his desires as it isn’t possible to not hurt his family if he does decide to fulfill
his dreams)
 “We nailed him into a coffin and he got out of the coffin without removing one
nail. There is a trick that would come in handy for me…” [pg. 13]
Amanda believes that Tom is being selfish and that his family obligations should come
before his dreams
 “AMANDA: Overcome selfishness! Self, self, self is all that you ever think of!” [pg.
17]
 “AMANDA: I know your ambitions do not lie in the warehouse, that like
everybody in the whole wide world-you’ve had to make sacrifices” [pg. 15]
Feels that he is obliged to bring the family together both financially and emotionally
hence he apologizes to his mother rather reluctantly after having been urged by Laura to
do so
 “Mother! – I apologize, Mother...” [pg. 14]
Amanda
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She is a dynamic character in terms of emotions as her emotions are somewhat
exaggerated in this scene
 “Breaks into childlike tears…” [pg. 14]
Amanda’s concern over alcoholism is excessive (possibly affected by her husband who
was an alcoholic himself)
 “Find out one that’s clean-living- doesn’t drink and-ask him out for sister!” [pg. 17]
 “And you-when I see you taking after his ways! Staying out late-and-well, you had
been drinking the night you were in that-terrifying condition!” [pg. 15]
She is over protective of her children (doesn’t seem to realize that they are already
adults)
 “Drinking too hot liquids makes cancer of the stomach.” [pg. 15]
Amanda cares more about the well-being of her children rather than herself
 “My devotion has made me a witch and so I make myself hateful to my children”
[pg. 14]
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Erika Morihiro, Jolene Oh & Ji Wan Park
Block H
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 “I don’t say me because I’m old and don’t matter- I say for your sister because
she’s young and dependent.” [pg. 17]
Traps her son Tom by making him promise her certain things
 “Promise, son, you’ll never be a drunkard!” [pg. 14]
 “Promise me one thing, son!” [pg. 14]
Laura
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She is an innocent and kind character and this is evident as she presumably stayed up all
night awaiting for Tom’s return from the movies (also shows her concern)
 “Tom! Tom, what are you doing?...Where have you been all this time?” [pg. 12]
Laura is dependent on both her mother and her brother
 “AMANDA: …I say for your sister because she’s young and dependent.” [pg. 17]
Her character is very delicate and fragile and we are reminded of this through the Glass
Menagerie music playing in the background
 “Legend on Screen: Laura
Music: The Glass Menagerie” [pg. 15]
Amanda believes that Laura is a failure and is rather ashamed of her although she
doesn’t tell her this in person
 “I put her in business college- a dismal failure!” [pg. 14]
 I took her over to the Young Peoples League at the church. Another fiasco.”
[pg.17]
 “Now all she does is fool with those pieces of glass and play those worn-out
records.” [pg. 17]
Laura cannot fulfill her mother’s dreams for her and the wearing Amanda’s coat and it
not being a perfect fit for her symbolizes this
 “Inaccurately made-over, the sleeves too short” [pg.13]
Laura falling on the fire escape indicates that the outside world is too treacherous for a
delicate person like her and that she is putting herself in danger whenever she steps out
of her “haven”
 “I’m all right. I slipped, but I’m all right” [pg. 14]
Overly conscious about everything and worries too much about what others think of her
 “Mother, they make such faces when I do that…” [pg. 13]
5) SYMBOLS
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Amanda’s coat
 In this scene, Laura accidentally grabs and wears Amanda’s coat as she rushes to
get dressed in order to go to the grocery
 As the coat does not fit Laura, it symbolizes the fact that Laura cannot fulfill her
mother’s dreams for her  to graduate from business school and to attain
gentlemen callers
 “Inaccurately made-over, the sleeves too short” [pg.13]
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Erika Morihiro, Jolene Oh & Ji Wan Park
Block H
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Coffin
 Symbolizes confinement however it is also rather ominous as coffins are often
associated with death
 Tom is being confined by his family and he wants to escape this confinement yet
he doesn’t want to hurt his family in the process
 “We nailed him into a coffin and he got out of the coffin without removing one
nail. There is a trick that would come in handy for me…” [pg. 13]
Fire-escape
 Symbolizes escape from the confines of their home  to the outside world
 For Tom, it is the pathway for him to escape from his family obligations and the
frustration which he feels whenever Amanda starts nagging at him
 Laura, who slips on the fire escape could foreshadow the fact that Laura can’t
escape from her family and that she will forever be dependent on Amanda and
Tom
 “LAURA: I’m all right. I slipped, but I’m all right.” [pg. 14]
Rainbow-colored scarf
 Visual imagery  Rainbow colors are often associated with happiness, balance
and peace which greatly contrasts the lives which the characters in the play lead
 Therefore, the rainbow-colored scarf could somehow symbolize the life wish they
could lead; a life that is free from confinement and arguments
 The fact that Tom gives the scarf to Laura could possibly signify that deep inside,
Laura’s character is one which is full of happiness and peace
Alcohol
 Symbolizes disaster for Amanda however it may symbolize escape for Tom
 In Amanda’s eyes, alcohol is the source of all evil  doesn’t want Tom to become
an alcoholic + doesn’t want Laura’s future husband to be an alcoholic as well
 “AMANDA: And you-when I see you taking after his ways! Staying out late-andwell, you had been drinking the night you were in that-terrifying condition!” [pg.
15]
 “AMANDA: Find out one that’s clean-living-doesn’t drink and-ask him out for
sister!” [pg. 17]
 Alcohol serves as a connection between Tom and his father as his father too was
an alcoholic
 This may also signify that one day, Tom too will abandon his family like his
drunkard father did in the past
6) CONNECTIONS TO ‘THE VISIT’
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Tom describing the magician’s coffin trick
 Ominous and has a clear association with death
 Claire bringing a coffin along with her when she visits Guellen  anticipating Ill’s
death
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Erika Morihiro, Jolene Oh & Ji Wan Park
Block H
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 In “The Glass Menagerie” it could symbolize the eventual “death” or end of the
familial relationship between Tom and his mother, Amanda and his sister, Laura
Amanda telling Laura to purchase some butter from the grocery on credit (“Just butter.
Tell them to charge it”) [pg. 13]
 Similar to how the people of Guellen bought items “on account”
The ringing of church bells to indicate the time
 “A deep-voiced bell in a church is tolling the hour of five as the scene
commences” [pg. 12]
 “The church bell is heard striking six” [pg. 13]
 Relates to “The Visit” because the church bells in both of the plays somehow
signify the time  in “The Glass Menagerie” it literally denotes the time of day
whereas in “The Visit”, the ringing of the church bells during Ill’s encounter with
the priest reminds him that his death is fast approaching
The characters in “The Glass Menagerie” seem to be able to forgive and forget whereas
in “The Visit” the characters, especially Claire is vengeful (does not forgive and forget)
 Both Tom and Amanda make up after having an argument  seems to be part of
their routine as they often argue, not talk and then one or the other makes up
 In “The Visit” after having been betrayed by Ill, Claire doesn’t forgive and forget
as she ends up plotting her revenge towards Ill and the town of Guellen
Amanda believes that because she is too devoted towards the well-being of her children,
she has turned herself into someone who her own children hate
 “My devotion has made me a witch and so I make myself hateful to my children!”
[pg. 14]
 There is a sense of parallel structure in this particular line from the play and this is
similar to “The Visit” where Claire says “ The world turned me into a whore. I shall
turn the world into a brothel” [pg. 67]  the world did this to me therefore I’m
going to do this to the world
7) PURPOSE OF THE SCENE + CONSEQUENCES OF OMITTING IT FROM THE PLAY
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The purpose of this scene is to: Emphasize on how Laura is a concern for both Tom and especially Amanda
 Illustrate the relationship between Tom and Laura as well as the relationship
between Tom and Amanda
 Emphasize Amanda’s fear when it comes to alcohol  she doesn’t want to her
son to become an alcoholic (as he might leave her) and she doesn’t want Laura’s
future husband to become an alcoholic either
 Poses the question of whether family obligations should come before
dreams/ambitions or vice versa
 Illustrate the fact that Amanda is very concerned about the well-being of her
children
 Gives the audience an insight/foreshadowing of Tom’s plans to leave his family
Consequences of omitting this scene from the play: The conversation between Amanda and Tom is vital for the play as it not only
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Erika Morihiro, Jolene Oh & Ji Wan Park
Block H
illustrates their mother-son relationship as it also contributes greatly to their
characterization
 We as an audience will not realize the somewhat intimate relationship that the
siblings have with one another
 Amanda is a very stubborn character as her nagging often leads to arguments
between her and Tom however she continues to do so
o Through this scene, we as an audience start to realize that she is just really
concerned about the well-being of her children and she just wants what’s
best for them (puts them ahead of herself)
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