The first situation in which Amanda shows an unfair treatment occurs in scene three. She confiscated his books solely because she did not like the content and said “I won´t allow such filth brought into my house!” She totally ignores that Tom is the one who earns the money for the rent. If he is old enough to provide for the family and being in the position of his father, he should also be old enough to decide which books he wants to read.
Tom loves to go to the movies, because as his own life is so boring he is looking for a bit of excitement by watching the adventures of other people. That is his way of escaping from his life as well as Laura´s escape is her glass menagerie. But Amanda does not believe that the nights he spends at the movies are so innocent. As she had this negative experience with her husband, she is afraid that Tom, too, could become a drinker. Moreover she is afraid that he could jeopardise his job by staying out so late and calls him a liar because she doe not believe him that he goes to the movies. In my opinion he has the right to stay out as long as he wants and fill his free-time however he wants. Would he stay out of work because of that, then Amanda would have a reason to complain but not as long as he fulfils his duties.
Another point which I consider as inappropriate is the way Amanda treats Tom and how she talks to him. Every mother should be treated with respect from her children and has the right to snub them in certain situations. But firstly in most of the fights between Amanda and Tom she is wrong and secondly he deserves more respect. He has to bear as much responsibility as an adult, therefore he has the right to be treated with the same respect. But at some points of the play Amanda treats Tom like
a small child and what is even worse, she is nagging him consistently about everything from his table manner to his habit of smoking. Of course that makes him feel annoyed and it is understandable that he does not feel comfortable at home and has the wish to leave.
Amanda never shows any recognition for what Tom is doing. She never thanks him for staying with them, for working in a job he hates in order to provide for the family and for sacrificing this much for his sister and his mother. Nothing he is doing is enough. The task she imposes on him and what she expects of him is nothing he can really fulfil. "I mean that as soon as Laura has got somebody to take care of her, married, a home of her own, independent-why, then you'll be free to go where ever you please, on land, on sea, whichever way the wind blows you! But until that time you´ve got to look out for your sister."
To come to a conclusion I think the most unfair point is that Amanda calls Tom selfish. Of the family he is the one who is least selfish. On the contrary, in my eyes Amanda is the one who is selfish. Tom has to sacrifice his youth and is not allowed to live his dreams because she is not able to accomplish her duties as a mother.
Being a mother means that you are supposed to care for your children and provide for them, both emotionally and physically. Amanda does neither of
these well. She makes Tom get a job in order to support Laura and herself. Tom is a young man who should be able to live his life, rather than trying to make a life for his sister.
Although Amanda has good intentions for her children she goes about everything in the wrong way. Some would say that she just wants the best for her children, which was most likely true, but she does not always know what the best is. She did love her children, but loving someone is not always enough. To be a good mother you need to tend to your child's every need, and believe in them 100%. Unfortunately Amanda possessed neither of these qualities.
On the other hand we have to consider the fact that life was not easy for her. Her husband left her, she has to depend on her son, having the fear that he could leave every moment like his father did and her daughter is crippled and extremely shy, so it does not seem that she will have any gentlemancallers or any success in career. Those are also the reasons why she always tells from the past as if it had been perfect. Another fact that should not be ignored is that the play is written of Tom`s point of view.