The Glass Menagerie Essay, Research Paper

Outline

Thesis Sentence: Did Tom selfishly abandon his household?

I. Tom & # 8217 ; s character

A. Daily life

B. Conflicts with his female parent

II. Tom & # 8217 ; s occupation

III. Laura

A. Asks Tom to apologise

B. Mother call on the carpeting him for his selfishness

IV. Gentleman Caller

A. Tom & # 8217 ; s secret

B. Tragic result

C. Final statement with his female parent

Thesis Sentence: Did Tom selfishly abandon his household?

To understand the inquiry, one must understand the individual. Tom Wingfield was an aspirant poet stuck in the furnishings of humble society. His life was in a changeless rut of working in a warehouse by twenty-four hours and get awaying to the films at dark. Tom & # 8217 ; s strained relationship with his female parent is best exemplified in the first scene as his female parent reproaches him to masticate his nutrient decently. Tom & # 8217 ; s answer is & # 8220 ; I haven & # 8217 ; t enjoyed one bite of this dinner because of your changeless waies on how to eat it. & # 8221 ; ( 1.7 ) This opening scene of mother-son struggle reappears in the signifiers of coffin nail smoke, library books, traveling to the films right up to Tom & # 8217 ; s eventual going in Tennessee Williams & # 8217 ; & # 8220 ; The Glass Menagerie. & # 8221 ;

Tom is clearly unhappy with his occupation. After a het statement about his library books, his female parent says & # 8220 ; What right have you got to endanger your occupation? Endanger the security of us all? How do you believe we & # 8217 ; d manage if you were- & # 8221 ; ( 3.33 ) Tom & # 8217 ; s angry answer is, & # 8220 ; Listen! You think I & # 8217 ; m crazy about the warehouse & # 8230 ; You think I & # 8217 ; m in love with Continental Shoemakers? You think I want to pass 55 old ages down at that place in that celotex inside! With & # 8211 ; fluorescent tubing! Look I & # 8217 ; d instead person picked up a wrecking bar and battered out my encephalons & # 8211 ; than to travel back forenoons! & # 8221 ; ( 3.34 ) As the household & # 8217 ; s merely changeless beginning of income, Tom is a captive to his humble occupation and is a captive of his ain dreams of flight.

Laura appears to be the chief ground why Tom has stayed with the household for so long. His affinity with his sister is apparent is scene four as Laura acts as intermediary between Tom and his female parent. Laura asks him to apologise, sayi

ng, “Tom, speak to fuss this forenoon. Make up with her, apologise, talk to her! ” ( 4.16 ) After apologising, Tom is given the undertaking of happening a gentleman company for his sister. But non before his female parent berates him, stating, “Overcome selfishness! Self, ego, ego is that all you of all time think of! ” ( 4.95 ) This acts as the accelerator for Tom to acquire off. With a defender for his sister, he would be free to get away the flat, his drab warehouse occupation and tyrannizing female parent.

As Tom brings the gentleman company place to run into his sister, he is free to unwrap his program for flight. When questioned about his hereafter, he replies, & # 8220 ; I & # 8217 ; m right at the point of perpetrating myself to a hereafter that doesn & # 8217 ; t include the warehouse and Mr. Mendoza or even a night-school class in public speaking. & # 8221 ; ( 6.110 ) This address is declarative of his guilt free programs to acquire off. In order to pay for his merchandiser mariner fee, Tom uses the money set aside for the light measure, electing to symbolically pay for his ain visible radiation for the hereafter, stating, & # 8220 ; I paid my dues this month, alternatively of the light bill. & # 8221 ; ( 6.120 )

The tragic result of the gentleman company brings Tom & # 8217 ; s dreams and aspirations into crisp focal point. Tom & # 8217 ; s female parent assaults him verbally, stating & # 8220 ; You live in a dream ; you manufacture semblances! & # 8221 ; This acts as the last abuse that Tom will take. He threatens to go forth, stating, & # 8220 ; The more you shout about my selfishness to me the quicker I & # 8217 ; ll travel, and I won & # 8217 ; t travel to the films! & # 8221 ; ( 7.320 ) The drama & # 8217 ; s last line, uttered by Tom & # 8217 ; s female parent, is a acrimonious farewell, & # 8220 ; Go, so! Then travel to the Moon & # 8211 ; you selfish dreamer! & # 8221 ; ( 7.321 )

For Tom to last, he had to go forth. While the warehouse occupation was supplying nutrient and shelter for his household, it was smothering him. As the lone character of the drama non populating in his or her nostalgic memory of the yesteryear, Tom had to protect his ain hereafter by giving his household. Tennessee Williams described Tom & # 8217 ; s character in the beginning of the drama, stating, & # 8220 ; His nature is non pitiless, but to get away from a trap he has to move without pity. & # 8221 ; ( 1406 ) This did non intend he egotistically abandoned his household. He simply chose to get down populating for himself.

Bibliography

the glass menagerie, by Tenessee Williams