I did not think the play would end like this! I am disappointed in the ending, but what should I expect in a play about glass--it breaks, right?!
Amanda acted as I thought she would. She entertains Jim and even makes fun of Tom in the process: "as a penalty for your carelessness you can help me with the dishes" (69.16-17). Also, she sort of wants Jim to loosen Laura up by giving her wine as she pretty much forces Jim to go comfort her in the other room. I couldn't help but think what she was laughing at the whole time Jim and Laura were talking. Everyone knows she couldn't have been having a conversation with Tom. Anyway, after she interrupted Jim and Laura she was fine that they were talking until she found out that Jim was engaged. Her tone changed after and even more after Jim left. I thought it was funny when she got mad at Tom for not knowing he was engaged. She claims that she was made a fool of, but Tom did tell her that he just plainly invited him over for dinner and not be Laura's caller. Some of Amanda's last words would be word's I think she may have said to her husband when he was leaving: "You don't know things anywhere! You live in a dream; you manufacture illusions!" (95.18-19) and "Go, then! Go to the moon -- you selfish dreamer!" (96.8). I found it ironic that Amanda was last seen comforting Laura, when throughout the play she was just hard on her.
Tom was being Tom. I was glad he finally got to escape from his trap. I felt as though he may have felt bad leaving Laura, but he thought it might have been good for her personal growth. When he states "blow our your candles, Laura--and so goodbye..." in his final monolague, I feel like he is giving her some hope for the future and basically telling her that he will not be coming back.
I thought that Laura was fooled and that this was too much too soon for her. But, Jim was just simply being the nice guy that he is, so I cannot fault him for that. She really liked him though, I could see that when Jim knocked over her favorite piece of her menagerie, and she didn't even get mad, instead she "carefully places the unicorn in the palm of his hand". I thought it was sweet that he signed her yearbook program and made her comfortable in her own skin. Also, his advice to her about taking a public speaking class is the same advice I think he gave tom.
Not the happy ending I hoped for, but it's realistic.
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I really liked your analysis of Amanda, I hadn't thought of some of those points before like why she was laughing in the kitchen, but I really liked your take on it. I like that you mentioned the moods of the characters throughout the play to put their behavior in perspective. Good work and a lot of personality. I enjoyed it :)
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