Tom's opening speech sketches the social background of the play and introduces the main characters. What basic information does Tom provide in this speech about his family? About the gentleman caller? About the nature of the play itself?

Explanation:

Tom was playing a role in a play. He told about his role in the play. Tom tells about the character in the play and gives the information about the character. There was a picture on the wall that plays the character of their father. That means now their father is no more. He is not with their family.

There is another character in the play such as his mother Amanda, sister Laura and there is a gentleman who was seen in the last scene of the play. Tom also explained the history of the play. Play is like memory and being a memory it is realistic and sentimental.