The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams

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The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
The main characters in the play have an important role in each other’s life, Amanda the mother of Laura (the daughter) and Tom (the son). The family set up is incomplete since Mr. Wingfield had left his wife and never appears physically but only as a portrait (Tischler, 14). The problems and suffering made them close to each other in that they always thought of each other. This paper looks at what might happen to Laura and to Amanda after Tom’s departure?
Though Amanda and Laura play a part in Tom’s departure (i.e. they were angry at Tom for taking home Jim whom they thought would marry Laura but was engaged to be married) his departure would affect their lives deeply. To Amanda, she had already been left by her husband and Tom’s departure would be the second loss which would increase her suffering and pain she felt. Her perception towards men would change to hatred and resent because of being abandoned by the two most important men in her life (Leverich, 67).
Losing a son would be very traumatizing for the reason that she was already used to him and gave her the reason to live. This trauma may even lead to suicide especially because she had nothing else to live for. She would despise herself and try to find peace only in the coffin as Tom says “the coffin trick”. Her daughter Laura was crippled with a mental disorder and looking after her alone was a burden that weighs heavily on her heart. Amanda had already developed so much anger and hate due to the loss of her husband; her son’s loss would make her angrier and hate other people (Scanlan, 51).
In addition, she would ever be guilty of playing a part in her son’s departure as she was the one who lashed at him “That's right, now that you've had us make such fools of ourselves. The effort, the preparations, all the expense! The new floor lamp, the rug...