The Glass Menagerie : Seriously??? (Spoilers)

"Oh look, a gentleman caller! If you sit around wishing and waiting for long enough, things will work out in the end."
"I hate working the dog shift because it reminds me of the family I abandoned; but in retelling the story, I have exercised my demons and I know that Laura and Mother are both happy."

This was my second time viewing an adaptation of the story. It was painful to watch knowing how things would end for poor Laura That is until I was met with the cheap ending of a second suitor magically falling from the skies to make life easy for Laura and her mother and to absolve Tom of guilt. Even a child could see that such an ending was tacked on. The trap fell through, but it was inevitable that things would turn out right in the end. That completely goes against the entire tone of the story.

It's such a sad construct, is it not? Anger or sorrow are the only two possible outcomes for the story. We're sad when things end poorly for Laura and, if you're like me, you're upset when you've been insulted by a Deus Ex Machina which sees the answer to their countless wishes magically appearing at their doorstep. It's a story for which there truly is no happy ending.

What? Really? There was a second suitor? I missed that part in the movie. I guess I went to the bathroom at the right moment. Sad ending was the main reason why I liked this movie. But now I know the truth and don't know what to think. It's cruel but it really shouldn't end up like this.

I actually even felt sad with that ending - not knowing that it wasn't the actual ending until I read this post. I liked this movie very much, but it made me feel very sad - I guess it should be like that. But you're right, the ending didn't seem consequent for meI nevertheless liked it.

I can't imagine a nicer evening for Laura to hold and treasure like she had with James whom I was wincing and worried the tenderness he showed would dry up in a negative way. He had a lot more class than I gave him credit for the first time and yes its the sad unfulfilled hope that makes the story. This second gentleman caller for all we know will storm out leaving poor Laura more wounded than ever which is my aching suspicion. If maybe she met the guy at the penguin exhibit at the zoo and the viewer could tell he also had Laura's peculiar preciousness then maybe that would make for a satisfying happy ending. If the story is to have one.

Well, the original ending to the play is pretty disturbing when you think about it. Tom proves to be a real jerk and runs off leaving his aged mother and fragile sister with no means of support, he's even spent the money for the last electric bill so they're already in the dark the night he leaves! I don't think he should live his life for his family but he shouldn't have left them high and dry like that and yet he poetically mourns the loss of Laura in his new life at the end yet he had no problem abandoning her into utter poverty! I love the play but find it's complete sympathy to Tom curious even if he did have to deal with the control freak mother of all time.

I don't think this ending that Laura and her mother are able to go on and live well after Tom's leaving all that terrible, one of the reason the play haunts it's audience is because of that (emotionally) awful ending. Besides it's only two minutes or so at the end, if one doesn't like it, turn it off after Tom runs off and you have the play's original ending!