Glass Menagerie 5-7
What I liked:
I enjoyed the description of Amanda running willy-nilly trying to make the appartment "presentable," coupled with Tom's total apathy for appearances. I also enjoyed the conversation between Tom and Amanda on the fire escape. It showed that the two did have civil conversations, at least occaisionally.
What I didn't like:
I am tempted to put Tom's monologues in this catagory, but they weren't so unlikable as unusual (to my experiences). What I really didn't like was Tom's appearant unconcern for his mother and sister's future. While he did work hard to provide for them, he resented the sacrifices he had to make.
Questions:
Did Tom actually plan to be gone before the lights went out? Despite his protests, paying to join the merchant marines instead of the light company rates pretty high on the selfish scale.
Discussion:
Now that I've read the entire play, I see Amanda as very tragic figure. Her intentions are to keep the family together and obtain a husband for her daughter, and her incesent nagging and interogating ultimately bring about the demise of all her ambitions. This is illustrated well in the final act, after Jim has left: "You don't know things anywhere! You live in a dream; you manufacture illusions! [He crosses to the door.] Where are you going?" Her pestering has the opposite of the desired effect, driving Tom away. This gives us great insight into why Mr. Wingfield went gallavanting off into the unknown.
monologue
The monologue is the contemporary equivalent of the soliloquy, such as Hamlet's "to be or not to be" business. The big difference, perhaps, is that Tom is purposefully speaking to the audience, at least how i read it, while someone such as Hamlet is talking with himself. Bradley
Bradley
I also think that theur
I also think that theur conversation on the fire escape seemed very sweet, they seemed to accept each others weird ways instead of getting all pissed off and arguing. I also think that the fact that Tom did not pay the electric bill seems a bit out of character for him. I did not think he would ever do something like that! I hope he regretted doing that!
dreams
I think that tom is a little bit selfish, but sometimes there is nothing wrong with that. He has been forced to take care of his family and this has kept him from following his dreams. Following your dreams is important.
Dreams...
Following your dreams is important, but not so important that family should be sacrificed on the alter of "what I've always wanted."
drawing the line on dreams
This is why I asked about Tom's obligations. Is he obligated to look after his mother and sister, after their father has blown them off? Must he step up as the "man of the family" or can he go off on his own, start his own life. That's why parents raise children, so they can go off on their own, not so they can care for them, though that's what happens in a number of cultures (but not so much contemporary, or recent, American culture).
However, many Americans today are giving up much of their private life to care for ailing parents, sometimes disabled siblings as well. Does family entail these obligations? Are we free not to be obligated by the needs of family who can't take care of themselves? Bradley
Bradley
No!
I think that Tom is completly not selfish. His mom and his sister could have went out and got their own jobs. He has spent his whole life pretty much providing for his annoying mom and his crippled sister. He needed to eventually break free from his controling family and fullfilling his life dreams.
What is selfishness?
Tom did provide for Amanda and Laura, but out of a sense of duty and obligation, not out of selflessness and love. When I say he is selfish in leaving, its not his actions I'm talking about. I'm not excusing Amanda or even Laura in this, everyone in this play is pretty screwed up.
Agreed!
Everyone has their issues for sure!! I see what you are saying. I think Tom did what he did like you said out of obligation and not because he had that love in his heart. It was like a chore to him rather than a helping hand to his family in light of their circumstances. There is a difference! Helping someone because you feel obligated, you're doing the right thing, but not for the right reasons and that can be damaging-because one only does it for so long. Like there is an expiration date on the help-like in Tom's situation.