l off in Blue Mountain. Though Laura doesn't want a gentleman caller, Amanda is concerned about Laura's future. She has Tom bring Jim to their home and has Laura portray an image of a perfect southern hostess displaying honeysuckle manners and down home coziness. Only for brief moments does she ever admit that her daughter is 'crippled' and then she resorts back to denial. This of course, ends in disaster as she finds out that Jim is getting married to someone else. She also wants Tom to be a successful, hard worker. As a result, she pushes him so hard that Tom leaves. The tension also unifies the theme of hopelessness and uselessness, as each character cannot fulfill their dreams. The character of Laura is a fragile daughter figure that finds herself escaping life at every turn. She is unable to deal with life’s difficulties. Frightened of interacting with people, she looks to her collection of glass animals as a place of secure acceptance. Laura clings to the fear that she is strange and crippled, though she irritates the reality of that. Magnifying her illness and denying her inner beauty to come forth, is the way Laura hides from a, "world lit by lightning." Laura had hopes that she would be with Jim and after he kisses her, she has a "bright, dazed look." However, Jim merely calls himself a "stumblejohn" and informs her that he is engaged. With this, Laura's hopes are shattered and she is unable to fulfill her dream. Tom’s character, on the other hand, relies on self-denial to justify his concerns and feelings of insecurity. By making himself believe that he is a righteous male, he convinces himself that his needs are to take care of his family. But, Tom also escapes by entering into his world of poetry writing and movies. He cannot handle his meaningless job and his unsatisfying home life. His biggest dreams flash before his eyes on a screen in a darkened room. But, living in that little apartment ...
