The Glass Menagerie 1

The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams

In The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams makes a point to keep the father a focal point of the story. Even though he is never explicitly in the sotry, he is referred to frequently. The large portrait of the family's father is a motif throughout The Glass Menagerie. Amanda refers to him frequently as her husband who has been away on business for sixteen years. Due to the constant fighting between Tom and Amanda, Tom wants to follow his father's footsteps. Tom wants adventure in his life, and the motif that is the portrait of his father is a constant motivation for an adventurous life. When Tom is referring to the portrait of his father, he says: "I'm like my father. The bastard son of a bastard! See how he grins? And he's been absent going on sixteen years"(Williams, 1269). Tom is saying that even though his father left their family, his grin and happiness is taunting the family. Tom aspires to be just as happy as his father is, and he knows that he will not attain that happiness if he is at home with his mother. In fact, Amanda is the root of much of Tom's unhappiness. I feel as though the motif that is the portrait serves as a constant reminder for the family that the father was able to reach a sense of self-satifaction. While the rest of the family is stuck at home, the father is out travelling the world and encountering adventure. At least this is what Tom believes his father is doing. I feel as though Tom has a glorified view of what his father has done since he left the family.