The Glass Menagerie Scene 7

Scene 7 of The Glass Menagerie almost exclusively dealt with the interactions between Jim and Laura. Although the beginning of the scene consists of Amanda making small talk with Jim again saying things like "isn't electricity a mysterious thing?," the main content of the scene involves Jim and Laura getting reacquainted (page 68). Jim, although already engaged, seems to fully enjoy getting to know Laura. With his easygoing and confident manner, Laura slowly loses her nervousness and begins to feel at ease with Jim. One of her precious glass animals is even damaged, yet she shows no remorse for the broken unicorn. This speaks to the amount of importance she gives to Jim.

Although Jim and Laura don't turn out falling for each other, Jim does teach Laura a great lesson. He tells her that she "doesn't have the proper amount of faith in herself" and has an "inferiority complex" (pages 80, 81). Although she is visibly shaken when she realizes that Jim is engaged to Betty, she bravely smiles at the end of their conversation, suggesting her increased strength in herself.

After Jim leaves, Amanda of course explodes at Tom for bringing an engaged man as a gentleman caller. Tom, having had enough, declares, "The more you shout about my selfishness to me the quicker I'll go, and I won't go to the movies!" (age 96). Tom proceeds to leave the situation entirely, getting fired from work and exiting the apartment forever. Tom's longing for adventure and meaning for his life eventually supersedes the feelings he has for caring for his family.

In the end, everyone goes their own way. Jim leaves to get engaged, Tom leaves to search for better things in his life, and Amanda and Laura are left in the apartment. Perhaps doomed to wasting away to nothing in their apartment, Laura at least gives some hope by smiling at her mother in the final scene.

After reading The Catastrophe of Success, the biggest thing that stood out to me was the need for isolation. After blowing up to celebrity status almost overnight, Williams expressed his need to get back to the simple life by moving down to Mexico to write A Streetcar Named Desire. I think everyone can feel this feeling of needing to be alone. I'm sure being well known can just magnify this desire.