The Glass Menagerie is a story about a mothers desire, a brothers help, and a gentlemen caller – all who try and help a crippled girl named Laura. Laura has been crippled since childhood and walks with a leg brace. Painfully shy, she is happiest when playing old records and polishing her collection of glass animals (the glass menagerie of the title). Laura's obsession with her "glass menagerie" is the strongest example of escapism in the play.
             Tom (Laura's brother) is the main source of financial support for himself, his mother and sister, and so he goes dutifully to work every morning at the Continental Shoemakers warehouse, settling for a proletarian existence while his poetic soul yearns for adventure. Amanda (Laura's mother) tries to make the best of the situation by pointedly ignoring Tom's disappointment while nagging at him to cheer up and chew his food. Her constant carping would be enough to annoy anyone, but it is particularly difficult for Tom to stomach, so he self-medicates with movies and alcohol.
             Tom would likely have left long ago had it not been for his sister. Laura, fragile, and frightened, holds him in place. She suffers from nerves so weak she has trouble leaving the tiny apartment and is incapable of either supporting herself or helping to support the family. Keeping herself occupied with meticulous care for her glass animals, it is Laura's need that keeps Tom from following in his father's footsteps.
             One night, Tom brings home a friend from the warehouse... in hopes that by finding someone who will love Laura, he will also find someone who will take her away, and leave him free to do what he wants.
             After dinner, Laura and Jim finally chat. At first she is shy, but gradually she begins to talk and even laugh. She expresses the fact that when they knew each other she had felt embarrassed in front of him because of the brace that thumped loudly. "I had tha...