encouraging company Laura reminds Jim that they knew each other in high school and that he had nicknamed her Blue Roses a mispronunciation of her childhood attack of pleurosis Jim tells Laura that she must overcome her inferiority complex through confidence Jim says to Laura People are not so dreadful when you know them Laura shows Jim her glass collection and lets him hold the glass unicorn her favorite They dance to the strains of a waltz coming from across the street Jim knocks over the unicorn as they dance breaking off its horn Jim kisses Laura but immediately draws back apologizing and explaining that he has a fianc e Laura is devastated but tries not to show it She gives him the broken glass unicorn as a souvenir Laura tells Jim It doesn't matter Maybe it s a blessing in disguise Thus Jim O'Connor catalyzes change and realization in The Glass Menagerie exposing the vulnerabilities of the Wingfield family and the frailty of their dreams His character underscores key themes of reality versus illusion and the inevitability of change