Sunday, February 6, 2011

What is the significance of Tom's abandoning Laura and Amanda in "The Glass Managerie"?

Tom has followed in his father's footsteps by adandoning Amanda and Laura.  As the sole breadwinner in the family, Tom's leaving has left his mother and sister literally and figuratively in the dark.  They have no source of income, and apparently will have to change in order to survive.

Up to this point in their lives, both Amanda and Laura, have been able to remain in their neatly defined worlds.  Amanda, in the past, and Laura in a world of glass.

Amanda will have to step up and find a way to survive financially.  Tennessee Williams does not give the reader any information about how Amanda and her two children survived after Mr. Wingfield left them.  So Amanda definitely has the instincts required to get through this difficult time.

Laura, after her experience with Jim, may be ready to venture outside her world of glass, and find a job in the real world.

Tom is going to be deeply affected by his leaving for the rest of his life.  He feels like a failure, having left his mother and sister just like his father did before him.  Tom is particularly haunted by the thought of his sister. 

Each of the three characters will be changed be Tom's actions. 

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