The play reveals the tragic story of the Wingfield family in 1945 St. Louis. Amanda Wingfield is a single mother; her husband abandoned the family years before. She is no longer living the life she dreamed of as a young Southern belle. Her son Tom works in a warehouse, setting aside his own ambitions to support his family. Her daughter Laura is achingly shy. The three of them live in a small apartment and are haunted by fantasies, pent-up rage, and the absence of Amanda’s husband. Amanda’s only hope is for a suitor for Laura to bring glory back to the family.