Term
| The play is a memory. Being a memory play, everything is imly lighted, it is sentimental, it is not realistic. In memory everything seems to happen to music. |
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Definition
Tom
In his opening narration Tom describes the nature of the play. This also gives us a setting and possible explanation for Tom's apparent knowledge of future events |
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Term
| Girls that aren't cut out for Business careers usually wind up married to some nice man |
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Definition
Amanda
Amanda is suggesting the next possible course of action for her daughter Laura. |
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Term
| a telephone man who fell in love with long distances |
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Definition
Tom
Tom describes his father in his opening narration. This provides an explanation for his absence and also gives some insight into the character of Tom himself |
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Term
| The huge middle class of America had matriculated from a school for the blind . . . they were having their fingers forcibly pressed upon the fiery braille alphabet of a dissolving economy |
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Definition
Tom
In his opening narration Tome describes the economic setting of the play. The imagery used enhances the idea that times were harsh and that the dissolving economy was truly being felt |
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Term
| You're not crippled, you just have a little defect |
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Definition
Amanda
This is symbolic of how Amanda fails to see Laura's flaws for what they really are. This is to Laura's detriment and refers mostly to her painful shyness |
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Term
| I have been . . . to the movies |
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Definition
Tom
Tom goes to the movies to escape the overbearing presence of his mother |
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Term
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Definition
Tom
This is part of Tom's reason for frequenting the movies, but it also gives a hint of foreshadowing |
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Term
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Definition
Tom (recount of words on a postcard sent by the father)
In opening narration Tom describes the flight of his father and the brief postcard indicates his father's indifference to leaving his family |
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Term
| Tom enters dressed as a merchant sailor |
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Definition
Stage Direction
Toms dress at this point in the play gives a clue as to Tom's fate at the end of the play as well as indicating that the play is Tom's memory. |
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Term
| a blown up photograph of the father hangs on the wall |
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Definition
Stage Direction
This indicates the constant presence, or reminder to Tom of what his father managed to do. |
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Term
| He is the long delayed but always expected something that we live for |
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Definition
Tom
In his opening narration Tom describes the nature of the gentleman caller. In effect he is summing up Amanda's life existence. |
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Term
| I think I've made that suggestion more than once |
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Definition
Amanda
Amanda constantly suggests to Tom that he should bring home a gentleman caller for Laura |
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Term
| You make it seem like we're setting a trap |
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Definition
Laura
This is Laura's observation during Amanda's preparations to receive a gentlemen caller. This comment displays an accurate perceptiveness on Laura's part. |
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Term
| She lives in a world of her own - a world of little glass ornaments |
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Definition
Tom
He describes the way in which Laura seems to live and explains her odd behaviour. |
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Term
| You know it doesn't take much intelligence to get yourself into a nailed-up coffin, Laura. But who in hell ever got himself out of one without removing one nail? [As if in answer, the father's grinning photograph lights up] |
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Definition
Tom
Tom here is expressing his desperation to escape like his father did and his frustration at being trapped. |
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Term
| I haven't enjoyed one bite of this dinner because of your constant directions on how to eat it |
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Definition
Tom
After Amanda tells Tom how to eat his food he gets frustrated at his mother always telling what to do and how to do things |
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Term
| Go then! Go to the moon - you selfish dreamer! |
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Definition
Amanda
After Tom threatens to leave Amanda finally gives in and lets go of her careful composure. |
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Term
| Fire escape, a structure whose name is a touch of accidental poetic truth |
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Definition
Stage Direction
The fire escape provides a symbol of the ongoing theme of entrapment and suggests Tom's need for an escape from his current situation. |
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Term
| Mother, when you're disappointed, you get that awful suffering look . . . on your face like the picture of Jesus' mother |
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Definition
Laura
This shows Laura's fragility and lack of self confidence. Laura was too afraid to tell her mother that she had dropped out of the business school because she was afraid of what her mother would think of her. |
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Term
| What right do you have to jeopardize your job? |
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Definition
Amanda
Amanda here indicates the expectations that she has of Tom. That Tom should provide for his family. |
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Term
| I am more faithful than i intended to be |
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Definition
Tom
This phrase occurs at the end of the play as Tom is reflecting upon his decision to leave his family and realises that he has regrets. |
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