Symbolic illustration of Laura's hands holding a glass unicorn

The Glass Menagerie

by Tennessee Williams

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Scenes 3–4 Summary

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Scene 3

Tom appears on the landing of the fire escape and tells the audience that his mother is obsessed with the idea of a gentleman caller for Laura. He explains that Amanda has begun selling magazine subscriptions over the phone in order to earn extra money, with which she will “feather the nest and plume the bird.” Amanda enters the scene while talking on the phone to a potential subscriber; she talks incessantly until the woman on the other end of the phone hangs up on her. Amanda appears surprised when she finds out that there is no one on the line.

Tom and Amanda argue behind the curtains. Tom expresses anger at the fact that Amanda has taken his library books away when he is the one who pays the rent on the apartment in which they all live. When Tom comes through the curtains, Amanda also appears, wearing a bathrobe that once belonged to Mr. Wingfield. When Tom says he is leaving, Amanda scolds him for his self-centeredness. Her tirade continues with an accusation: “I think you’ve been doing things that you’re ashamed of.” Tom loses control and shouts at his mother about his dissatisfaction with his job at the shoe warehouse. During his rant, Tom denies that he has been acting selfishly. He tries to leave to go to the movies, but Amanda is suspicious and accuses him of lying about his destination. Tom grows emotional again and taunts his mother by saying that he is going to “opium dens, dens of vice and criminals’ hang-outs.” In fury, Tom calls Amanda an “ugly—babbling old—witch” as he makes his way to the door of the apartment. When Tom becomes tangled in his coat sleeves, he throws the garment across the room in frustration. The coat hits the shelf on which Laura stores her glass animals, accidentally breaking some of the fragile objects. Laura becomes upset at the sound of broken glass.

Amanda tells Tom she won’t speak to him again until he apologizes to her, and she leaves the scene through the curtains. Laura is preoccupied with her loss. Tom goes to the shelf and “[d]rops awkwardly on his knees to collect the fallen glass.”

Scene 4

As a church bell rings, indicating that the time is five o’clock, Tom stands outside on the fire escape and “shakes a little noise-maker” in time with the bell. He has been drinking alcohol. Laura appears in her nightgown. When Tom tries to enter the apartment, he drops his key. Laura lets her brother in and asks him where he has been. Tom claims that he has been at the movies all night and describes a magician’s stage show he attended. Laura tells Tom to lower his voice so as not to wake their mother, and he lies down and falls asleep.

As the church bell sounds for six o’clock, an alarm clock rings, and Amanda’s voice orders Laura to wake Tom. Laura pleads with Tom to apologize to their mother, but he is still exasperated. Tom is reluctant to say he is sorry and asks his sister if their mother’s silence is “such a tragedy.” When Amanda appears, she pressures Laura to go to the shop for butter and to pay for the purchase on credit; Laura resists, finding such transactions uncomfortable, but she goes to the store as Amanda comes into the living room, where Tom is standing. After a few moments of silence, Tom apologizes to his mother, and Amanda becomes emotional. As she weeps, she talks of her devotion to her children and praises Tom for his “natural endowments.” After he promises her that he won’t become a “drunkard” like his father, Amanda asks Tom to have a discussion with her about Laura.

Amanda tells Tom that Laura is upset because Laura can sense that Tom is “not happy here.” Amanda confronts Tom again about his whereabouts at night, and he insists he goes to the movies because he “like[s] adventure.” Tom tries to exit the conversation with his mother, but she refuses to let him go, insisting that he talk with her about Laura. Amanda tells Tom that she feels frightened about Laura’s future. When Tom displays confusion at Amanda’s obsession over a house and a husband for Laura, Amanda confronts Tom and tells him that she knows about the letter he recently received from the Merchant Marines. Amanda accuses him of behaving selfishly like his father. She goads Tom, encouraging him to abandon his family as his father did, but “not till there’s somebody to take your place.” Amanda explains to Tom that Laura needs somebody to take care of her, and she asks him to bring someone home for Laura from the shoe warehouse. Tom agrees and leaves the apartment as Amanda calls another potential magazine subscriber.

Expert Q&A

In The Glass Menagerie, why does scene 4 end with Amanda selling magazine subscriptions?

Scene 4 ends with Amanda selling magazine subscriptions to highlight her "Spartan endurance" and the harsh economic realities faced by the family. Despite her ambitions and desires for a better life, Amanda perseveres through a demeaning job, reflecting the sacrifices she makes for her family's survival. This scene underscores Amanda's determination to secure a future for Laura, emphasizing the theme of enduring hardship for familial obligations.

In The Glass Menagerie, how does Tom's Scene III speech use verbal irony to develop humor and bitterness?

Through verbal irony, Tom's speech becomes humorous and ironic as he describes his actions in a "fantastic" manner. However, the humor turns to bitterness when he describes how his mother will go up on a broomstick, a symbol of witchcraft and magic. This article is from the English II Companion created by K12 Reader .

Examine the details of Amanda's speech to Ida Scott in Scene 3 of The Glass Menagerie.

In Scene 3, after discovering Laura's truancy from business college, Amanda focuses on finding a suitor for her daughter. She takes a job selling magazine subscriptions to redecorate their apartment. During her call with Ida Scott, Amanda feigns personal concern, mentioning Ida's absence from the D.A.R. and her sinus issues, before launching into her sales pitch. Despite Ida hanging up on her, Amanda remains determined to succeed, contrasting with Laura's timid nature.

What is one important symbol in scene 4 of The Glass Menagerie and why is it appropriate to its associated character?

In Scene 4 of The Glass Menagerie, the fire escape symbolizes the desire for escape from the Wingfield apartment's emotional turmoil. Tom frequently uses it, indicating his yearning for freedom, while Laura's fall on the steps highlights her inability to escape her confined life. This is apt for Laura, who retreats into her glass menagerie rather than face the outside world, contrasting Tom's more tangible attempts to break free.

What is the intense argument between Tom and Amanda in Scene Three of The Glass Menagerie about?

The intense argument between Tom and Amanda in Scene Three stems from underlying tensions about Tom's desire for freedom and Amanda's demands for him to be more present at home. Amanda views Tom's movie outings as self-indulgent, while Tom sees them as necessary escapes. The argument signifies a deeper rift and foreshadows Tom's eventual departure, highlighting the irreparable damage to their relationship.

What is an unresolved conflict in Scene 4 of The Glass Menagerie?

An unresolved conflict in Scene 4 is the tension between Amanda and Tom. Although they attempt to reconcile, Amanda's desire to marry off Laura contrasts with Tom's wish to leave. Tom's reluctance to find a suitor for Laura adds to the friction. Additionally, Tom struggles with the fear of repeating his father's abandonment. Amanda's motivations, whether for Laura's well-being or her own image, remain ambiguous, leaving these conflicts unresolved.

In scene 4 of The Glass Menagerie, what do we learn about the characters and what writing techniques are used?

In scene 4 of The Glass Menagerie, we see direct and indirect illustrations of how the dynamics work in the Wingfield household. The family attempts to go on with life as usual, each member trying to fit a role. However, we can see how each family member is either unwilling or unfit to fulfill the roles that they have been made to fulfill as a result of the family abandonment committed by Tom and Laura's father.

Are there examples of metatheatre in Scene 4 of The Glass Menagerie?

In Scene 4 of The Glass Menagerie, metatheatre is evident when Tom recounts his evening to Laura, describing a magician's show he supposedly saw. This narrative, involving Malvolio the Magician, serves as a story within the play, complete with its own structure and imagery, making it an example of metatheatre. Tom's tale blurs the lines between reality and performance, highlighting the play's thematic exploration of illusion and reality.

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Scenes 1–2 Summary

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Scenes 5–6 Summary

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