Jessica

Amanda makes both of these statements: "All pretty girls are a trap, a pretty trap, and men expect them to be." "No girl can do worse than put herself at the mercy of a handsome appearance." Explain Amanda's double standard.
 * The Glass Menagerie Discussion**

This is during the time Amanda is talking to Laura, getting her ready for the gentleman caller and is stuffing her blouse with two powder puffs that are wrapped in handkerchiefs, which she calls, "Gay deceivers" (1.6). Amanda says, "All pretty girls are a trap, a pretty trap, and men expect them to be" (1.6). Amanda is trying to tell Laura about how all girls get ready for the gentlemen callers by creating the illusion of being prettier than what they really are so that the men fall for them. Men expect the girls to create this illusion so their appearance looks more appealing.While Amanda was talking about the tragic mistake she had made by choosing their father rather than some other gentleman caller, she states, "No girl can do worse than put herself at the mercy of a handsome appearance" (1.5). Amanda is trying to tell Laura and Tom that she fell for their father just because he was handsome and that girls put themselves in the worst situation and set themselves up for these problems when they fall for a man because of their charming looks. Overall Amanda is trying to say that looks are deceiving. Girls try to make themselves look more appealing by stuffing their blouse or some other thing for the men since the men fall for the pretty girls first, eventhough they do expect the girls to do this. Girls should look at the gentlemen caller's characteristics and personality before they fall for their appearance and get themselves stuck in a problem.

Amanda thinks it's okay for girls to deceive guys about their appearance because in the society that existed when she was growing up, her and the other girls were only taught how to look and be pretty and never taught how to be independent. She was always taught that girls have to learn how to be pretty so that they can meet a gentleman caller, get married, and then live with their husband to support them for the rest of their life. When her husband left her, she had nothing to fall back on and no one to rely on, so she was left with two children to raise but didn't know how to cook dinner, make money, or support her children. It was a struggle for her because she didn't know how to do anything but be pretty, which can't get you far in life when you are on your own, so Amanda wants to teach Laura how to be pretty but also be independent so if she does end up with out a husband at sometime in her life, she will know how to take care of herself and not depend on a guy to support her and the children (if she has children).


 * //Jessica: You explain the situation and quote very well, but why does Amanda think it's okay for girls to deceive guys about their appearance, but it's not okay for a girl to be at the "mercy of a handsome appearance" Think about society -- especially about the society which existed when Amanda grew up. Mrs. S//**