There was a Jim O'Connor we both knew in high schoolif that is the one that Tom is bringing to dinner-you'll have to excuse me, I won't come to the table."(Williams, 89). When Jim does come to eat dinner at the Wingfield's house, he is the only character in the play that brings reality to them, "Since Laura lives in a world of illusion and dream, Jim, as the ordinary person, seems to Laura to be wonderful and exceptional. He is so different from her own world that he appears to be the knight in shining armor."(Cliff Notes, 32). Rose's retreat into her own dream world caused her to become emotionally fragile just as Laura. She not only became emotionally fragile, but self-destructive as well; Rose blamed Cornelius of trying to get her in bed which might have added to her mental deterioration. Tennessee is encumbered by Rose's illness; he wants to pursue his career of writing, but he feels responsible for his family. In the play, Tom feels the need to leave his mother and sister, "Don't think about us, a mother deserted, an unmarried sister who's crippled and has no job! Don't let anything interfere with your selfish pleasure! Just go!"(Williams, 136). Amanda construes to Tom that she knows he wants to leave to supervene his dream of becoming a writer, but that he should at least be responsible enough to take care of his family until Laura is well taken care of in the future, "I mean that as soon as Laura has got somebody to take care of her, married, a home of her own, independent-why, then you'll be free to go wherever you please, on land, on sea, whichever way the wind blows you! But until that time you've got to look out for your sister."(Williams, 65). Amanda requisites Tom to bring home a gentlemen caller in order so that he can leave soon, and that she can be rest assured that her daughter will be well provided. The apartment talked about in The Glass Menagerie is identical to the one that the Williams' relocated to in ...
