Question

In "The Glass Menagerie," how does Laura perceive Jim, and what is his actual role in the story?

A) Laura sees Jim as a potential romantic interest, while he is actually Tom's friend.
B) Laura views Jim as a heroic figure with exceptional capabilities, but he is just a regular guy.
C) Laura believes Jim is her long-lost sibling, while he is a coworker of Tom's.
D) Laura sees Jim as a threat to the family, but he is, in fact, a helpful neighbor.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option b. Laura perceives Jim in 'The Glass Menagerie' as a heroic figure, an embodiment of her desires, but in reality, he is merely an average person with his own struggles.

Step-by-step explanation:

In The Glass Menagerie, Laura perceives Jim as an example of unattainable normalcy and a symbol of her desires. Option B most accurately describes Laura's perception and Jim's actual role in the story: Laura views Jim as a heroic figure with exceptional capabilities, but he is just a regular guy. Laura’s remembrance of Jim from high school as the charismatic gentleman caller manifests into an almost mythic ideal, especially in her state of emotional fragility.

However, Jim's characterization in the play shows him to be a straightforward guy who struggles with his own disappointments and is engaged to be married, which shatters Laura’s illusion.