The Loss Of Father In The Glass Menagerie

The loss of father is a recurrent theme in English literature. The father Mr. Wingfield, who has never appeared on the stage in Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie, is one of the examples and has the symbolic meanings. Although it seems that Mr. Wingfield’s influence decreases even disappears due to his absence in the family, his position indeed has been consolidated by the role of mother, son and some objects related with him.After the introduction to the tradition of the loss of father in the previous literature, this thesis will focus on how the role and the position of father are displayed in The Glass Menagerie. First, mother Amanda plays the role of parent in the family when father has left. She tries to earn money to provide the basic materials for the children. She also hopes the daughter to get married in case she could become economically independent. But the failure of her expectation proves that the role of father can not be replaced. Second, Tom is required to become the assistance for mother because he is the only masculine character. On one hand, he has to work in a factory against his will in order to bring the home bacon, on the other hand, the duty of the father’s choosing husband for daughter has been transferred on the shoulder of Tom. Actually, it is difficult even impossible for both Amanda and Tom to survive without the help of father under such circumstances as economic crisis and war are approaching. In return, the function of father has been proved. Next, father’s photography hangs on the wall of the house so obviously that nobody can escape from his big smile. His records are played by Laura who finds the way to dissolve her anxiety and alienation. These objects connected with father become the spiritual sustenance of the rest family members and also the proof of father’s existence.Williams dramatized individual experience and observation about the actual Western society which suffered chaos and misery since the late of19th century into this play. The loss of father in the Wingfields is the vivid portrait of the family of the playwright, and of the world where the Western people lived after the God is dead. The playwright’s disappointment about the father and the family conceals his desire for an ideal father and family, at the same time, the conscientious artist tried to find out a way to salvation for the human beings and him.