The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams had ordinary people in ordinary lives that closely resembled the influences of Williams' personal life while having recurring themes and motifs throughout the story. The work has been created by many with some variations in the script and setting, while still holding on to the basic ideas of the original work. Amanda Wingfield was a complex character that encompassed many aspects of her personality. She longed to have the life she had as a girl and young woman with gentlemen calling and being the center of attention; her reality, however, was a much sadder existence with a son who worked in a factory making little money in a job he despised and a daughter who was as emotionally and physically fragile as the glass figurines her daughter collected. She was a caring mother who wanted to see her children succeed and lead what she believed was a meaningful and secure life, although her techniques and visions for achieving this goal were misguided and overbearing. During the play's snapshot of life, the Great Depression had taken a toll on the family, forcing Amanda to remember her past as a Southern belle to escape the pain she felt in her present. She was constantly in denial about her daughter's (Roberts) flaw and personality. She couldn't understand why her daughter wasn't more like her when she was younger. She continually pestered Tom to become what she imagined a man to be and not pursue what she considered silly dreams of adventure. He also had unrealistic expectations that would not be realized for Laura expecting her to be an outgoing person with a constant flow of gentlemen calling her (Odak). Amanda's constant and high expectations made the situation the family found themselves in... the center of the card... Elijah. Study Amanda Wingfield's character in the Glass Menagerie. November 4, 2013. .Roberts, James L. CliffsNotes on the Glass Menagerie. November 04, 2013. .SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes on The Glass Mnagerie. SparkNotes Editor Ed. 2003. October 30, 2013. Biography Channel website. Tennesse Williams.biography. 2011. Website. 6 November 2013. .The glass menagerie. By Stewart Stern and Tennesse Williams. Dir. Antonio Harvey. 1973.Williams, Tennessee. "The Glass Menagerie." McMahan, Elizabeth et al. Literature and the writing process. Boston: Pearson, 2014. 767-807.