In The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, sexuality is a concept developed through the naivety and innocence of Laura Wingfield. This can first be examined by analyzing Amanda Wingfield's unreasonable expectations of her daughter, Laura. By prescribing the sexual identity she deems appropriate, Amanda undermines the sexual identity her daughter is truly comfortable with. Second, it is clear that for Laura's character, sexual innocence is an important characteristic. This is especially seen in her relationship with her longtime crush, Jim O'Connors. Due to Laura's extreme shyness, it is clear that naivety inflates her emotions and goes a long way in showing the effects of her delayed sexual maturity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay To begin, it's important to understand that as a faded Southern belle, Amanda Wingfield struggles to accept the reality of her situation. She sticks to traditions that her family can't really afford and continually attempts to transfer her upscale upbringing into her much poorer and less gracious home. This form of denial then translates into her parenting style, as Amanda makes a lasting impression on her daughter, Laura, and her perception of sexuality. First of all, Amanda tries hard to find herself in her daughter who, in the eyes of any spectator, clearly turns out to be the opposite of her mother. Furthermore, not only does Amanda virtually ignore her daughter's disabilities and inability to function socially, but she pushes her to follow the paths that "normal" girls follow. Above all, she expects Laura, who is visibly shy and uninterested in romance, to entertain many gentlemen. Amanda tries to control her daughter's life, and her involvement with Laura impinges on her daughter's sexual development. [Amanda produces two puffs which she wraps in tissues and puts in Laura's breast] LAURA: Mother, what are you doing? AMANDA: They call these “Gay Deceivers”!LAURA: I won't wear them!(...)LAURA: You give the impression that we're setting a trap.AMANDA: All pretty girls are a trap, a nice trap , and men expect them to be." (Williams 52: sc. 6) Here, despite Laura's protests, Amanda focuses on the sexualization of her daughter in order to make her more attractive to the gentleman who calls her, Jim. Amanda's stubbornness is illustrated by her enthusiasm and the use of an exclamation point after "they call them 'Gay Deceivers'!" It is clear that for her, there is no alternative. and that this is how the world works By deliberately objectifying her daughter, Amanda compromises her sexuality. Rather than being herself, Laura is forced to change in order to conform to the gender roles imposed on her by her mother. , ultimately, society Laura's inherited innocence about sexuality is evident when she says, "You make it sound like we're setting a trap. » She does not understand her mother's intentions and also does not see the point of stuffing her chest and "setting a trap". It is clear that Laura has not yet reached the sexual maturity and confidence that her mother assumes she has. Laura's approach to sexuality is therefore particularly innocent. She is shy around men and ashamed of her feelings (as seen when she shows her mother the picture of her high school crush Jim in her yearbook). This is further demonstrated when she is left alone with Jim in scene 7. During her conversation with Jim, the focus is on Laura's youth. LAURA [hurriedly, embarrassed]:?