The Wingfield family is stretched to its limits, both monetarily and emotionally. They live week to week off of Tom's paycheck, with the lights even being turned off after one missed payment. Further, they can barely stand to be near each other, especially Tom, who escapes to the fire escape to smoke whenever he can. Though previously Amanda's nagging for Tom to focus on his job seemed excessive and controlling, when Tom reveals his plans to Jim to join the "Union of Merchant Seamen," (62) it becomes more understandable. In this scene, my opinion of Tom changed dramatically. I used to see him as a victim, but he has now become an evil deserter, who is leaving his mother and sister helpless with no income and no hope for a better life. And, he does this right after Amanda tells him that all she wishes for "success and happiness for [her] precious children" (40). Amanda's relationship with Laura also seemed to change. Before, it seemed too aggressive and commanding, but when Jim leaves, Amanda takes it well and doesn't scold Laura for being too shy. Instead she is mad at Tom for "mak[ing] such fools of ourselves" (95) by not knowing that Jim was engaged.
Once Tom and Amanda wished on the moon together, my perspective of Amanda changed. Though it's possible she could've been lying, I think she truly just wants her children to be happy. She does all she can to help with the bills by selling magazine subscriptions, and she spends all extra money on making Laura pretty. After the second half of The Glass Menagerie, it seems as though her motherly love trumps personal greed.