* Amanda Wingfield, the matriarch of the family, is a former Southern belle who clings to the past and refuses to accept the harsh realities of the present. She deludes herself into believing that her son, Tom, will become a successful businessman and that her daughter, Laura, will find a wealthy husband.
* Tom Wingfield is a frustrated poet and warehouse worker trapped in a life that he hates. He dreams of escaping to the adventure and excitement of the world outside of St. Louis but is also feels a sense of responsibility towards his mother and sister.
* Laura Wingfield is a shy, introverted young woman who has retreated into her own world of glass animals. She is painfully aware of her physical imperfections and lacks the confidence to face the outside world.
The play explores the tensions between these three characters as they struggle to find their place in society and come to terms with their own identities.
-Tom feels suffocated by his family and longs to escape,
-Amanda is desperate to hold onto her illusions and maintain the family's social status,
-and Laura is struggling to overcome her shyness and find her place in the world.
Ultimately, the play ends in tragedy when Tom leaves the family and Laura's glass animals are broken reflecting the shattered hopes and dreams of the Wingfield family.