sees “…a piece of transparent glass…” (1310), or hears “…a familiar bit of music” (1310) he is reminded of Laura. So in the end, Tom isn’t successful at escaping his realities. It is in the actual escape that he fails the most because he can’t forget Laura. Amanda and Laura are the most pitiful characters in the play. Their methods of escape consist of what goes on inside their heads. Laura escapes through her menagerie. “[Laura’s] glass collection takes up a good deal of [her] time” (1303). Laura is so engrossed with taking care of her glass collection that she forgets to live her life. Laura also hides behind her disability. She even admits that the brace on her leg “…sort of –stood between [her]-[and making friends]” (1301). Laura never tries to do anything but live in a reality where she is afraid of everything. Amanda however isn’t afraid of anything except not being taken care of. Amanda also lives in a make-believe reality. In Amanda’s mind she is still a girl receiving “gentlemen callers” (1270). Even when Laura is to receive a caller, Amanda gets more dressed up than Laura. Amanda even refuses to acknowledge that Laura is “…crippled” (1275). She illustrates this point by saying “…you’re not crippled, you just have a little defect-hardly noticeable, even!” (1275). In Amanda’s world men are still nice and polite, unlike her son Tom. There are no handicapped children, especially her not her own. Yes, Amanda and Laura live in very strange worlds. They escape their poverty and positions in society by creating their own unique realities. The only problem is that Amanda and Laura never get anywhere with their fake realities and end up in the exact place they tried to get away from. On the other hand, the father and Jim actually have a chance and do escape. The father le...
