Notably, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a tragic and largely autobiographical play that raises crucial questions of love, loneliness, and personal freedom. The story tells of a family where the oppressive but very charming mother, Amanda Wingfield, tirelessly terrorizes her mature children, Tom and Laura. It is essential to add that there is minimal mention of the father in the play. Instead of an actual character, a life-size photograph above the fireplace in the Wingfield house depicts him.
Nonetheless, the father’s presence is felt through the actions and words of the play’s main characters. For instance, Amanda Wingfield’s son, Tom, obligates to feed the family, although he has his personal goals and plans. The significant similarity between Tom and his father is that Tom, like his father, would like to leave the family. Instead of expressing misunderstanding of his father’s past actions, Tom shows an incredible desire to follow in his father’s footsteps and leave the family. He exclaims, “I am like my father. The bastard son of a bastard!” implying that he may repeat the same path (Williams 68). He dreams of leaving his mother and sick sister, Laura, but he cannot.
Consequently, Tom wants to travel and write poetry; however, he sacrifices freedom for the sake of his family. He is content with going to the movies, only there he sees an exciting life. Tom remains feeling the burden of responsibility, but the oppressive atmosphere, his hateful and monotonous job, and frequent quarrels with Amanda encourage him to leave. In the end, Tom, like his father, having left home, forever remains in The Glass Menagerie because he cannot escape the memories of his sister.
Work Cited
Williams, Tennessee. The Glass Menagerie. New Directions, 1999.