| Amanda Wingfield, a faded Southern belle, has high hopes for her son Tom and daughter Laura. Tom, who fancies himself a poet, works a deadening job in a shoe factory and spends all his free time at the movies. Laura, crippled by a teenage bout of "pleurosis," stays at home playing with her collection of glass animals and listening to the record collection left behind by her father who deserted the family long ago. Amanda tries to get Tom to find a husband for Laura; Tom just wants to escape home altogether. Eventually a "gentleman caller" does visit, with dispiriting results. Everyone in the family is in flight from reality, but by the end of this classic American play Laura, the seemingly most weak and fragile, sees herself and the others most clearly. The story, which takes place in St. Louis shortly after World War II, is narrated by Tom years later. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - depressed Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's Kids growing up/acting up? Yes Family, struggle with Yes Struggle with: - Mother (or standin) Family, loving relations Yes Special relationship with - sister Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Parents/lack of parents problem? Main Character Gender - Male Age: - 20's-30's Main Adversary Identity: - Female Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: Eccentric/Smart/Dumb: Yes Eccentric: How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 2 () United States Yes The US: - Midwest City? Yes Writing Style Amount of dialog - mostly dialog |
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