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The Glass Menagerie Abandonment

Decent Essays

Is Abandonment Really the Solution?

In The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, the theme of abandonment is salient throughout 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 and fulfill his American dream controls his final decision. Through Tom's actions, thoughts, and the negative imagery of his father, Williams proves that abandonment is a viable solution in escaping challenges and reality, if it is tenable.

The way Tom acts on the difficulties and challenges that he faces at home not only affect him but his family as well. He escapes his troubles from home, due to the pressure, by going to the movies. Finally, his mother realizes and …show more content…

He justifies it by expressing his emotions towards his sister and his memorable times with his family, even though he leaves them. Tom says, “Oh, Laura Laura I tried to leave you behind me, but I am more faithful than I intended to be! I reach for a cigarette, I cross a street, I run into the movies or a bar, I buy a drink, I speak to the nearest stranger- anything that can blow your candles out” (scene VII). In this quote, Tom tries to justify abandoning his family to himself by expressing that he never forgets about them. He says that he is more faithful than intended, which in a way also brings him comfort for leaving them. Tom also justifies his abandonments towards his family because of his dreams. He says, “Movies, look at me them! All of those glamorous people- having adventures- hogging it all, gobbling the whole thing up! You know what happens? People go to movies instead of moving” (scene VII). He is implying that at the movies, a person can sit in one chair and fly across the world without getting on an actual plane. Likewise, Tom dreams of having adventures and when his mother pressures him into staying and taking care of the family, he, of course, gets frustrated and proceeds to the movies. This shows that abandoning his family is viable to Tom when it comes to his

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