Read this excerpt from Scene 5 of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. TOM: I thought perhaps you wished for a gentleman caller.

AMANDA: Why do you say that?

TOM: Don't you remember asking me to fetch one?

AMANDA: I remember suggesting that it would be nice for your sister if you brought home some nice young from the warehouse. I think that I've made that suggestion more than once.

TOM: Yes, you have made it repeatedly.

AMANDA: Well?

TOM: We are going to have One.

AMANDA: What?

TOM: A gentleman caller!

[THE ANNUNCIATION IS CELEBRATED WITH MUSIC. AMANDA rises
IMAGE ON SCREEN: CALLER WITH BOUQUET.]

AMANDA: You mean you have asked some nice young man to come over?

TOM: Yep. I've asked him to dinner.

AMANDA: You really did?

TOM: I did!

AMANDA: You did, and did he—accept?

TOM: He did!

AMANDA: Well, Well? Well, well! That's—lovely!

TOM: I thought that you would be pleased.

AMANDA: It's definite, then?

TOM: Very definite.

AMANDA: Soon?

TOM: Very soon.

How does this scene affect the play?

It demonstrates how Tom and Amanda are desperate to marry Laura off, so they can have their own lives.

It creates anticipation about the upcoming meeting between Laura and her first gentleman caller, Jim.

It emphasizes that Laura is not interested in having gentlemen callers pursue her.

It highlights how invested Tom is in pleasing his mother and making her happy.