Transparent Beauty Elisabeth Kubler-Ross describes people, especially the Wingfield family, as “stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when darkness falls, their true beauty is only revealed if there is a light from within.” Through the show, Laura Wingfield's beauty is masked by her crippled appearance and glass figurines. However, Amanda Wingfield's beauty is hidden by her nostalgic, controlling past. Amanda's son and Laura's brother, Tom, sees his bright dreams and his future crushed by the regret of abandonment. Throughout the play, The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, the reader is tested and convinced by the three main characters to be the protagonist of the 1945 play. To begin with, the audience can hear that Amanda Wingfield, Tom's mother and Laura Winfield, is the protagonist due to her developed personality. Instead, critics would consider Tom to be the central character because he is the narrator of the play. Finally, the reader may view Laura as the focus because of her ability to change through the show. Basically, depending on the interpretations, each of these three characters is a possible protagonist. First, some readers feel that Amanda Wingfield is the best choice for the protagonist. Amanda is most likely to be the main character because of her ability and reasons for taking action. Amanda is a flat character who tries to make sure her daughter Laura has “plans and provisions” to keep her from “[drifting] away doing nothing” (34). Amanda could be the main target because she has more to lose and more to gain. Amanda longs for her past, when men satisfied her every need. Amanda wants to rely on a man to take care of “Tom's unmarried sister, paralyzed and jobless” (96)....... middle of paper..., and the importance of her actions. However, Amanda is not the protagonist due to her negative characteristics, pessimistic reasons, and selfish behavior. Tom is another candidate for protagonist because he narrates the play, letting his thoughts emerge throughout the performance. But he is not the protagonist because he chooses to abandon his family for selfish reasons. Some people feel that Laura is the protagonist because she is more likely to change and is at the center of ongoing conflicts. Laura is in fact the best choice as the protagonist because she breaks through her wall, becoming a sophisticated woman. Tennessee Williams gave protagonist qualities to all the main characters to allow the audience to be independent readers. Critics have deciphered the difference between the three main characters to determine the most suitable protagonist.