The Glass Menagerie Movie Review

I felt like the movie that we watched of the Glass Menagerie was very accurate to the book. All of the lines were the same and the same actions were happening that I visualized while reading the book. One of the major differences that was from the movie to the book is the beggining of the movie, Tom had no monologue at the begining. Instead it was just him walking up the alley towards the house. In the begining of the book there was an opening monologue explaining things like the setting of the stage and how Tom would be playing the narrator and himself in the play. One of the things that I noticed the director added was when he would have Amanda's voice echoing into the scene again to show that the story was resuming. This would happen every time after we saw Tom sitting on the steps smoking and thinking about his memories. I found that every interesting and it added an extra effect of showing that it was a memory. While watching the movie, Amanda was even more annoying than I had imagined. She just kept on talking and talking until Tom would yell at her and then she would get mad at him for yelling at her. That is called provoking. Also when I was reading the book, I did not understand that Laura and Amanda both cried when Laura admitted to not going to her type writing class. That was something I missed while I was reading the book. When Amanda finds out that they will have a gentleman caller, she gets very excited. She had everything planned to be ready for Jim. When Jim got to their house, Amanda was very excited and kept on talking to Jim and did not allow him to make a full sentence for a while until Tom stopped her. When Jim talks to Laira he really changes her. She falls in love with Jim again after they dance. Instead of giving the horn to Jim in the book, Laura gives Jim the whole horse. Laura calls it a souvenir. This is important because souvenir in French means memory so it is not only something that Jim will keep as an item, but it will also remind him of the time that he danced with Laura when he was invited over to dinner.  Amanda becomes very upset when she finds out that Jim has a girlfriend named Betty. Amanda and Tom have their last blowout and Tom leaves. In the end they show Laura blowing out the candles that were lit while Tom says goodbye.

Tom's Journal Entries

Choose 1 character & write a week of journal entries in the voice & style of that character. Begin with what you know, but also add some of what you don't know but could be true (ex: what Laura does and thinks when she goes on her walks)

Character: Tom 

Monday

Dear Journal, 

Today is Monday, the beggining of another week of work for this stupid apartment. Mother just told me to "Rise and Shine" again. Man am I sick of that. Maybe I should do that to her when she is asleep. I swear if it wasn't for Laura I would have left this apartment straight out of high school. The only thing that keeps me level is smoking and going to the movies. I am getting sick and tired of putting my dream on hold. I want to be a great writer and instead I have to make shoes in a factory to keep the electricity on. I have to go now, Mother is telling me that I am late again. 

- Tom

Tuesday

Dear Journal,

Mother and I had a major blowout again last night. She kept on telling me how to eat and other non important stuff. I had to leave because she continues to badger me about stupid things. I swear I am going to start drinking so that I can get thrown out of this house. My father was a genius. I wish that I could leave the way that he did. Mother is a nightmare to deal with. All she can talk about is her 17 gentleman callers. Well you know what, I think that she should try to find a gentleman caller for herself so that I can leave this place. I am so angry right now.

-Tom

Wednesday

Dear Journal,
I am on my break at the factory. This morning Mother asked me to see if there were any men here that would be interested in meeting Laura. At first I refused but now that I am thinking about it, maybe this is my opportunity to get out of here. There are two ways that I can leave. One way could be that it actually works out with Laura. Or I can invite somebody who isn't interested and pretend that they are a gentleman caller. Once mother finds out that it wasn't a real gentleman caller, then she will be so mad at me that she will kick me out and then I will be free. Oh this is so great.

- Tom

Thursday

Dear Journal
I just told mother the news that we had a "gentleman caller" that was interested in Laura. Oh the look on her face was priceless. I can't wait for when she finds out that Jim is engaged. This is surely going to work. Her hopes are so high right now. I am sorry for Laura but, I just can't continue to live like this. I want to be great. All mother does is keep me down. I am going to discuss with Jim today about the time that he wants to come over for dinner. I will write tomorrow with that information.

- Tom

Friday
Dear Journal
Jim and I agreed to have dinner on Saturday evening. Oh this is fantastic. If this works the way that I think, then I may be able to catch the last train out of this stupid city and travel the world. I really want to go to Chicago first and then New York. I am going to make so much money from my writing and I will never have to make another shoe. Mother is cleaning like crazy right now. She keeps asking me to help her but I am going to ignore her because it won't matter in a day from now. My future seems bright ahead of me.

- Tom

Saturday
Dear Journal
Today is the day that I move on with my life. No more hearing "Rise and Shine" from mother. No more worrying about the electric bill, or the heating bill. Oh I can't wait for this to happen. I should start packing my bags soon because I am going to be ready to leave when this goes down. I am so excited. I am going to start packing now.

-Tom

Sunday
Dear Journal
FREEDOM, that is what I have right now. I am on the train to Chicago right now, oh how beautiful it is to see land passing by away from that apartment. My plan was a success. Mother was so angry that Jim was engaged. It was a good idea to have my bags packed. I am ready to turn the page and lead on a new life. I am sorry Laura, but I had to leave you there. Hopefully one day you will figure out what to do with your life. Maybe you will get a job or even find a gentleman caller. This is my last journal entry in this book. I am going to throw if out of this moving train as far as I can. This part of my life is now over.

-Tom

Discussion Questions

Act 1
1.) Why does Laura lie to her mother about not going to typing school?
2.) What does the Glass Menagerie symbolize for Laura?
3.) Why doesn't Amanda back off of Tom when she knows that he is wanting to leave?


Act 2
1.) Why did Tom lie to his family about Jim being a gentleman caller?
2.) Why does Jim give Laura the illusion that he likes her when he is already engaged?
3.) Why does Amanda feel the need to talk so much when Jim came to their house?

Character Relationships
1.) Why does Amanda get upset with Tom all the time, but when Laura dropped out of typing school, she wasn't mad?
2.) Does Amanda even care about Tom?

Staging
1.) Why are ther music cues throughout the book?
2.) How would lighting help to set the scene for characters like Tom and Amanda?

The Glass Menagerie Charcter Journey

Tom- I feel like he knew that Jim was engaged and was trying embarrass Amanda. This was his last rebellious act before leaving them for good and following his fathers footsteps. He finally was able to get his adventure.

Amanda- she was very nervous when Jim came to their house. She was definately acting over the top when Jim was around. She was dressed up and talk a lot. She seemed hyper when Jim was around.

Laura- I feel like Laura changed the most after Jim came to their house. Jim made Laura feel confident in herself. He told her that she was beautiful and should be proud to be herself.

Character Life Journey Drawing

Glass Menagerie Character Quote

For each character, choose one significant quote from what you have read so far. Explain the quote and connect it to your understanding of that character's personality, backstory, desires and frustrations, etc. 350-450 words.

Tom- "House, house! Who pays the rent on the house, who makes a slave of himself to."
This quote really shows Toms personality. He is always bitter about his life. He does not like that he has to work at the shoe factory. He is always upset because he is the one who pays for the rent and all of the bills that need to be payed. He always argues with Amanda because Tom feel like she doesn't respect him enough. He is also the only person in the house who has a real job. His personality is very bitter. He is frustrated that he has to continue to put his life on hold so that Laura can get a gentleman caller. His desire is to be a writer. He sees himself as an intellect but he has to work every day at the shoe factory. He loves adventure so he always goes out at night.

Amanda- "Down at the warehouse, aren't there some nice young men?"
Amanda is the mother of both Tom and Laura. Amanda is very worried about Laura not getting a gentleman caller. This shows her personality because she is nervous when she says this to Tom. Her job is help Laura get a gentleman caller so that Tom can move on with his life. Amanda is somebody who loves to live in the past. In the book she tells the story about how she got many gentleman callers when she was younger. Her main desire is for Laura to get a gentleman caller so that she can get married because they are living on the edge. Amanda knows that Tom is very unstable and on the edge of leaving because he is forced to work so she is really trying to find a way to get Laura a gentleman caller to take care of them. Her frustration is that it is hard to find Laura a gentleman caller because she is very quiet and has something off about her.

Laura- "I'm just not popular like you were in Blue Mountain."
Laura is a very shy girl that has a limp and lives in her own little world. She is not very interested in trying to get a gentleman caller. Her personality is off compared to the rest of the world. It is like she lives in her own little world and is not concerned about her future. This is evident when she left the typing school. She lied to her mother and instead of going to the school she would walk around in the park. She is two years older than Tom but she acts way younger than her age. She does not have many desires and she is frustrated that Tom is always upset.