The Glass Menagerie: Ordinary O'Connor

In Scene Six of The Glass Menagerie, written by Tennessee Williams, the readers are finally introduced to the long awaited gentleman caller of the play, Jim O’Connor. In the character descriptions, Jim is characterized as “a nice, ordinary, young man,” (Williams, 1234). Furthermore, Tom, the narrator, continues to describe Jim as “the most realistic character in the play, being an emissary from a world of reality that we were somehow set apart from,” (Williams, 1236). When Jim does call on the Wingfield family, these characteristics shine through. Although Amanda is overbearing and showy, Jim proves his kind personality by laughing at her jokes and paying attention to her. Furthermore, although Laura is incredibly shy and awkward, Jim spends time with her and even encourages her to branch out and break through her introversion. Jim also has formed a friendship with Tom at the warehouse where they both work, even though Tom is considered strange by others because of his love for poetry. Although some people might be put off by the Wingfield family, Jim O’Connor embraces them. Unlike the Wingfields, Jim is also what one might call ordinary. He has a stable job that he works hard at, he is engaged to an equally ordinary girl, he is friendly, and most people like him. However, Jim is also described as the most realistic character. His realism shines through many of the characteristics with which he was described. While Amanda is lost in her past, Laura is lost within herself, and Tom is lost in his desire to escape, Jim is happy with the situation he is in and completes his daily tasks without complaint. The fact that Jim goes through an everyday schedule proves his realism, as most people today live their lives on a schedule. They go to work, do their errands, and have a family, and Jim embodies this person perfectly. His realism is contrasted with that of the Wingfields, where each family member lives in their own world on a day to day basis.