nteen! --gentlemen callers", and since Laura cannot fulfill those expectations, she is crippled. Even her appearance is subject to Amandas standard when Jim arrives. When Amanda compliments her daughter, she uses the opportunity to give herself a bigger compliment mirroring Jims actions. Next is the our narrator, Tom. Their apartment is Toms nailed coffin. He yearns to be free of this love, the mirror, and for adventure such as the Merchant Marines. Tom has a need for companionship like every other human being, but his need for loneliness is greater. Tom and his sibling share this. His mother says "Go to the movies, go! 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!". This is his mother using the mirror against him. Tom is a grown man who pays the rent of their dwelling. Although Tom should hold some power in the household he is constantly being held in check by being made to feel guilty. Eric P. Levy notes that Toms smashing of the glass after his mothers declaration is symbolic of Toms mirror and his urge to smash it. Not only is this symbolic of his mirror, but it is another link to his sister when her glass menagerie breaks. Tom and Laura are nailed into dysfunctional love with their mother. Toms smashing of his mirror and them leaving foreshadows Lauras possible future leaving when her mirror breaks. A similar episode occurs in scene four when Amanda tempts Tom to join the Merchant Marines by crying out then leave, good-bye! And me with the bag to hold. This way of thinking comes from her experience with abandonment form her husband. Amandas manipulation and narcissism is in part fueled by a stockpile of insecurity.Finally, Amanda is a woman who feels the most secure when she is in her own world of skewed history. The likelihood of one woman having 17 gentlemen callers in such a short period of time is very likely to be exaggerated...
