It is in the second scene that the author begins to reveal Laura's obsession with her glass collection. Laura is lying back gazing into a crystal and seems to be lost in her own private world when she suddenly hears her mother approaching. It is obvious that her mother, Amanda, has berated Laura many times about her preoccupation with the glass. We know this because Laura panics at the prospect of her mother finding her at it again. Once we have seen Amanda's tirade about Laura dropping out of business school, Laura's state seems licit. The glass in this scene seems to be Laura's hopes and dreams of another life. She hasn't the courage to live a normal sociable life, but her fantasy world of the glass menagerie fulfills her need for more than the confines of the apartment.

Later, in scene three, Amanda's critical remarks toward her son, Tom, provokes an argument. Laura nearly cowers as she watches her brother and mother yell at one another. It is in this scene that Tom accide

It is in scene 7 that we hear Laura explain the significance of her glass menagerie. The gentleman caller, Jim O'Conner, is purposefully left to sit with Laura as Amanda and Tom clean-up after dinner. Jim is masterful at getting Laura to sit and talk. Jim explains later in the scene that his confidence and assertiveness was learned from taking a public speaking class. Laura has a little wine and eventually quickly warms up to Jim's charm. Laura reminds Jim of their high school days and describes herself as the girl who always came in late to their chorus class, "clumping up the aisle" of the auditorium. Jim quickly rebukes her for making unfavorable comments of herself. Laura goes on to show him their high school yearbook, a program from the school play and her glass menagerie. It is then that she describes the special qualities of the unicorn.

We see Laura's guilt manifest itself in reconciliatory fashion in scene four, as she tries to mend fences between her mother and brother. She persuades Tom to apologize to his mother. Amanda then feels free to belabor her worries of Laura's future. She tells Tom that Laura cannot spend the rest of her life playing the Victrola and gazing at the pieces of glass. The reference to the glass in this scene is used by Amanda to sum up Laura's misspent life.

The big night has arrived and we await the infamous "gentlemen caller" as scene 6 opens. Amanda insists on helping Laura to look presentable. We watch as Amanda flits about the house preparing with total disregard for her daughter's anxiety. All the fuss coupled with the new knowledge that the gentlemen caller and her old flame may be one in the same person, makes Laura nervous to the point of nausea. Amanda heartlessly forces Laura to answer the door when the men arrive and Laura's panic causes her to be physically ill. Laura does all she can to detach herself from the situation she is placed in, but her fears are just compounded as the evening plays out. She stumbles as she tries to be seated at the table and it is then that Amanda acknowledges Laura is legitimately ill. Laura is carried to the sofa by her broth

Some common words found in the essay are:
Tennessee Williams, Amanda Tom, Laura Amanda, Laura Jim, Tom Laura, Betty Laura, Tennessee William's, glass scene, Jim O'Conner, glass menagerie, laura goes, unicorn souvenir, scene 7, gentlemen caller, jim unicorn, glass collection, laura amanda, mother amanda, reference glass scene, ,
Approximate Word count = 1429
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)