f the title. This illusory world shields Laura from the painful realities in the real world. It is a colorful and safe world in which the victrola provides a soothing tone to relieve the monotony. LauraÆs world at the opening of the play is like a piece of her own glass, tucked away safely on a shelf. Amanda leads a life of illusion as well. She pretends she goes to typing class, when in reality she has not been going. When her mother realizes this she tries to tear Laura from her illusions: ôSo what are we going to do the rest of out lives? Stay home and watch the parades go by? Amuse ourselves with the glass menagerie darling? Eternally play those worn-out phonograph records your father left as a painful reminder of him?ö (Williams, 1945, 407).
It is LauraÆs mother who is the driving force behind motivating her daughter to development more realistic behaviors. She continually reminds Laura of her youthful past, when gentleman callers came from all over the country for the presence of her company. In some ways while these actions spur Laura to concede to having a date with a friend of TomÆs, they also show us she is painfully aware of the realities of the situation. In one instance Amanda says to her: ôNot one gentleman caller? It canÆt be true! There must be a flood, there must have been a tornado!ö (Williams, 1945, 404). The reply Laura gives shows us she knows reality, but prefers to avoid it: ôItÆs not a flood, itÆs not a tornado, Mother. IÆm just not popular like you were in Blue Mountainö (Williams, 1945, 404).
LauraÆs mother worries over her daughter. While her good intentions make her unwittingly cruel at times, Amanda tries to force Laura away from her world of illusions and escape into the world of reality. Once she realizes Laura can just not stomach the business world, she decided she will find her a good marriage prospect, ôGirls that arenÆt cut out for business careers usually wind ...