Characterisation of Amanda Wingfield

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Personality

Role
  • Amanda is a very theatrical and extroverted character.
  • Amanda wants what is best for her family and often makes sacrifices in order to help her loved ones which shows that she is caring.
  • She often nags Tom but she is only doing it because she cares about him.
  • She has many flaws which are highlighted in the play by the use of comedy and theatrical flare of her character.
  • She doesn't live in reality, but in the past.
  • Amanda constantly nags at Tom for many things, mainly to do with where he goes in the evenings and about Laura.
  • She often makes sacrifices, such as selling magazines on the phone to earn extra money to help find Laura a gentleman caller, which shows how much she cares for her children.

Development (Growth & change)

Other information              
  • Amanda's character mainly remains the same throughout the play.
  • She accuses Tom of not living in reality when she herself is guilty of living in the past and relishing on memories.
  • "Stay fresh and pretty! - It's almost time for our gentleman callers to start arriving (She flounces girlishly towards the kitchenette)"
  • This quote shows that Amanda is clearly living in the past. The word choice of 'our' instead of 'your' shows that she is trying to pretend that she is the same age as Laura which yet again shows that she is living in the past. This shows Amanda's difficulty in accepting reality and has themes of delusion and deception.
  • "Tom: I'm going to the movies!
  • Amanda: I don't believe that lie!
  • Tom: I'm going to opium dens!"
  • The conversation between Tom and Amanda above shows that Amanda can't accept reality which leads to Tom coming up with a ridiculous lie. The short lines and exclamation marks show that this is a heated argument and that the conversation is one of conflict.

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