Jim O'Connor, The Wingfields' Hope

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams

Throughout the play, the idea of having a gentleman caller visit the house consumes the Wingfield family.  Therefore, when Tom announces that he has invited a man from work to visit for dinner, Amanda and Laura lose it.  Amanda immediately begins preparations for the caller's arrival and Laura becomes overwhelmed with anxiety because she has never had a gentleman caller before, let alone Jim O' Connor, her high school crush.  Upon arrival, Jim begins his series of profoundly affecting the family members with Tom.  Tom confesses to Jim that he has become a member of "The Union of Merchant Seamen" and plans to leave his family for more ambitious pursuits (Williams 1268).  Before, Tom had thoughts about leaving and dreamed of having his own adventures, but he never vocalized it or did anything to make those adventures happen until Jim visited.  With respect to Amanda, Jim's presence transforms an overbearing, overprotective, paranoid, controlling mother into the perfect Southern belle.  She immediately assumes a Southern accent and behaves as hospitably as any host could, much different from her normal behavior.  Finally, concerning Laura, Jim succeeds in warming her up to interaction with the outside world.  Jim recognizes Laura's introversion, self-consciousness, and "inferiority complex" and works to instill self-confidence in her to replace all three (Williams 1279).  In fact, in Tom, Amanda, and Laura, Jim instills some type of confidence.  Tom gains the confidence to pursue adventure, Amanda gains confidence in her beauty and charm as a host, and Laura, finally developing some sense of self-worth, gains general confidence in herself.  Even though Jim ended up being engaged and could not completely satisfy the Wingfield dream for a gentleman caller, he did immense good for the family.