Glass Menagerie : The play as a study of escapism

The Glass Menagerie introduced the audience to several characters who each have their own unique way of escaping from reality. Laura, Tom, Amanda and Jim are unable to live in their present life, but instead manage to escape from their lives into fantasy's and illusions. Amanda tries to escape from reality by living in the past and by trying to control her children. Tom, who seeks adventure, escapes from his life by going to the …

…constantly living in the present lives, so each of them find their own specific way to escape. The characters all escape because of the same reason, the present future frightens them. Whether the escape be adventure, writing , glass, memories or control, Laura, Tom, Amanda and Jim have each learned how to master escaping from reality. The pressure of that last moment in the novel shatters the family's illusory worlds and forces them to confront reality.