The Glass Menagerie Abandonment Essay

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In The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, the theme of abandonment is salient to the play. Throughout most of the play, Tom contemplates whether he should stay with his family doing something he hates or leave them and follow his dream. His yen to be happy controls his decision in the end. Through Tom's actions, thoughts, and the negative imagery of his father, Williams proves that abandonment is a viable solution in the escaping challenges and reality, if it is tenable. Williams uses Tom’s thoughts to illustrate how Tom feels about abandoning his family. He justifies it by expressing his emotions towards his father and how he doesn’t really blame him for leaving. Abandonment is a means of escaping Tom’s problems with his mother. Tom's …show more content…

Williams sees abandonment, if preformed without reason, as an egregious thing. Tom, being tired of the pressure from his family, decided to leave them and go on his own. On the contrary, his father left because, as an itinerant man, he “fell in love with long distances.” This is his reason for abandoning his wife and two children; he left them alone with nothing. This shows his weak character. Also, Amanda, the mother, always brings up the fathers dirty ways and dark past. “And you – when I see you taking after his ways! Staying out late – and – well, you had been drinking…”(Scene IV). Additionally, Amanda is constantly pushing Tom to fill in his father’s shoes and take care of her and Laura like his father never did.: “But until that time you've got to look out for your sister. I don't say me because I'm old and don't matter. I say for your sister because she's young and dependent.” (Scene IV). Additionally, she urges Tom to maintain and try to keep his job even though he does not like it: “What right have you got to jeopardize your job? Jeopardize the security of us all?” (Scene III). Amanda knows he is not happy but she also knows that his job is what puts food on the table and a roof over their heads, so she encourages him to try and

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