In the play “The Glass Menagerie,” the audience is presented with three obvious main characters. Each of these characters, Tom, Laura and Amanda, has a strong claim to the title of protagonist, but what looms over the play is the specter of the Wingfields' absent father. It could be argued that his departure was the catalyst for the events of the play, affecting both the financial security and physiological well-being of all members of the family. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The Wingfields' father is mentioned at the beginning of the play, in Tom's opening monologue. Tom describes their father and talks a little about his escape from the family. After describing him as "a telephone man who fell in love with long distance" (p. 14) and a mysterious postcard he sent to the family saying "hello - goodbye", he says: "I think the rest of the piece will explain itself.” This immediately indicates that the absence of the father has a great impact on the family. He is mentioned in almost every scene, maintains a visual presence on stage at all times (in the form of an image), and is mentioned once more in Tom's final monologue. Tom's opening and closing comments frame the action of the play, emphasizing his importance to the audience as the main character. The iconography that represents the father in the play constantly reminds the reader of his absence, but more importantly the characters. themselves. The most important image of the set is the photo of the father which remains on the mantelpiece, facing the audience throughout the play. He is described in the stage instructions as (the face of) "a very handsome young man wearing a World War I Doughboys cap." He smiles valiantly, inevitably, as if to say 'I will smile forever'” and while the interior of the house is described as dark, the portrait of the father is bathed in light. The image of the smiling father resembles the Wingfield family's past – representing both a time of past happiness, while also being a constant reminder of the family's disappointment and feelings of abandonment. The fact that he is smiling and bathed in light represents a happier time for the family, and the fact that they keep him on display suggests that they might still have the illusion that he might return or that they feel that 'They should pretend he's still there with them smiling. This photo represents something more to Tom: it represents his future; how he will leave the family in the same way as his father, almost ascending to take his place. As the play is told retrospectively, the image is a constant reminder to Tom of his future which could have been different. Another reminder of the father's presence is the Victrola music player he left behind. The victrola is the sanctuary to which Laura retreats when she is nervous or stressed. For example, in the second scene, while being scolded by her mother, she "walks over to the victrola and winds it up." Her mother asks her about it and she replies “Oh! » then “returns to his place”. The use of the sound of surprise and the stage directions that follow suggest that it was a reflex to move towards the victrola. The victrola is a symbol for Laura, a link with her father; the fact that she instinctively retreats there in difficult times shows that she still feels, or hopes to feel, her father's protection, once again reminding the reader of his presence in the house. Amanda still wears a bathrobe he left behind, perhaps showing her inability to accept his disappearance.These icons represent the presence of the father in the family's life and show that he is still an integral part of their lives. The importance of the father as a character is manifested in the effects of his actions on the family. unity, as well as on different members of the family. In the time this play is set, before World War II and after the Wall Street Crash, many American families went through a period of financial hardship – and without Social Security at present, it is suggested that the The absence of a paternal breadwinner puts great financial pressure on the family. This is reflected in Tom's dissatisfaction with his job and how hard he works; (referring to rent) "...who makes himself a slave..." (p29) and Amanda's desperate attempts to earn extra money by selling subscriptions to "Companion" magazine, using unsubtle sales such as "you just wouldn't be able to get out if you hadn't read it" (p28.) In addition to making money, Amanda and Tom compete to take the place of the father figure. Amanda takes This conflict of roles and. perception of what is necessary in the situation ends up causing conflict and is a common phenomenon in single-parent families, as well as being a key element of domestic tragedy – presenting the family as somewhat dysfunctional. dysfunction is that Amanda tries to curb Tom's (perceived) excessive drinking and smoking: "Promise, son, you'll never be a drunk" and "you smoke too much", this tends to provoke a backlash. anger or anger. Tom's humor because he feels like an adult, both reactions serving to push back against his mother's wishes. This could also suggest that Tom feels he must become an adult prematurely. The capitalization of the word son in this excerpt indicates that Amanda is forcefully reaffirming her position as the adult and parent of the family, and when Tom responds in the negative, Williams capitalizes his use of the word mother, showing that he accepts or pretends to do so. accept this. This conflict within the Wingfield family unit is typical of modern domestic tragedy presenting the family as somehow corrupt or strained; it also features Tom and Amanda maneuvering to gain control, another key element of domestic tragedy. Laura also tries to fill the void left by the father within the family. She presents the calmer side of a father figure; trying to keep peace in the house and trying to relieve the needs of his mother and brother; “Mother, let me clear the table.” Her humble attitude is symptomatic of her crippling insecurity, caused primarily by her disability, but also by her father's absence – as Laura says, she retreats to the victrola, a symbol of her father, in times of stress. Tom and Amanda repeatedly mention Wingfield's father figure, using him to strengthen their arguments. “One thing your father had a lot of was charm!” » Laura doesn't mention it once, suggesting that she was affected the most by his loss, implying that she is in denial. This shows the extent of the damage his actions have caused to the family. The effect of the father's departure on Tom is different from the effect it has on Laura and Amanda. Rather than a point of sorrow or difficulty for him, it becomes a point of aspiration; Throughout the book, Tom harbors a growing desire to follow in his father's footsteps and.