In the play "The Glass Menagerie" the audience is introduced to three obvious main characters. Each of these characters, Tom, Laura and Amanda, has strong claims to the title of protagonist, but what looms over the work 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 family members. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The Wingfields' father is mentioned early in the play, in Tom's opening monologue. Tom describes his father and tells something about his escape from the family. After describing him as "a telephone man in love with long distance" (p14) and a mysterious postcard he sent to the family saying "hello - goodbye", he states "I think the rest of the show will explain itself". This indicates, right from the start, that the father's absence has a great impact on the family. He is mentioned in almost every scene, always maintains a visual presence on stage (in image form), and is mentioned once again in Tom's closing monologue. Tom's opening and closing comments frame the action of the play, emphasizing his importance to the audience as a main character. The iconography that represents the father in the work serves as a constant reminder of his absence for the reader, but above all for the characters. themselves. The most prominent image on the set is the image of the father which remains on the mantelpiece, facing the audience for the duration of the show. It is described in the stage instructions as (the face of) “a very handsome young man in a World War I boy's cap. He smiles gallantly, he smiles ineluctably 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 is reminiscent of the Wingfield family's past, representing both a moment of past happiness, but at the same time a constant reminder of the family's disappointment and feeling 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 may still have the illusion that he will return or that they feel they should pretend that he is still there with them that they smile. This photo represents something more for Tom: it represents his future; how he will leave the family in a similar way to his father, almost ascending to take his place. Since the play is told retrospectively, the image constantly reminds Tom of his future which could have been different. Another reminder of his father's presence is the Victrola music player he left behind. The victrola is the sanctuary where Laura retreats when she is nervous or stressed. For example in scene two, while being scolded by her mother, she "goes to the victrola and charges it". Her mother questions her about this and she remarks "Oh!" and then "returns to its place". The use of the surprised sound and subsequent captions suggest that moving to the victrola was a reflex action. The victrola is a symbol for Laura, a bond with her father; the fact that he instinctively retreats there in difficult moments shows that he still feels, or hopes to feel, his father's protection, once again reminding the reader of his presence in the house. Amanda is still wearing a bathrobe that he left behind, perhaps demonstrating her inability to accept his disappearance. These icons represent the presence of the father in the life of the family and show that he is still an integral part of their life.The importance of the father as a character is manifested in the effects of his actions on the family as a unit, as well as on individual family members. In the time this play is set, before World War II and after the Wall Street Crash, many families in America went through a period of financial hardship - and with no social security at this time it is implied that the absence of a paternal breadwinner puts a strain on the family from an economic point of view. This is shown by Tom's discontent in his job and how hard he works; (in reference to rent) “…who enslaves himself…” (p29) and Amanda's desperate attempts to earn extra money by selling subscriptions to “Companion” magazine, using less than subtle sales techniques such as “you just you couldn't get out if you hadn't read it" (p28.) In addition to making money, both Amanda and Tom compete to take the place of the father figure. Amanda takes on the role of mother and father in the family, bringer of sympathy and authoritarian , while Tom takes on the responsibility of being an independent adult and the main earner to support the family. This conflict of roles and the perception of what is needed in the situation ultimately causes conflict and is a common phenomenon in single parenting, as well as being a key feature of the domestic tragedy – presenting the family as somehow dysfunctional. An example of this dysfunction is Amanda trying to curb Tom's (perceived) excessive drinking and smoking: “Promise, son, you won't be. never a drunkard" and "you smoke too much", this tends to bring a reaction of anger or humor from Tom, as he feels he is an adult, both reactions serve to reject his mother's wishes. It may 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 negatively Williams capitalizes in his use of the word mother, showing that he accepts, or pretends to accept This. This conflict within the Wingfield family unit is typical of modern domestic tragedy which presents the family as somehow corrupt or strained; it similarly features Tom and Amanda jockeying for control, another key feature of domestic tragedy. Laura also tries to fill the void left by her father within the family. Presents the calmer side of a father figure; attempt to maintain peace in the home and try to alleviate the needs of his mother and brother; "Mom, let me clear the table." His humble attitude is symptomatic of his crippling insecurity, caused primarily by his disability, but also exacerbated by his father's absence – as Laura said he retreats to the victrola, his father's symbol, in times of stress. Tom and Amanda mention Wingfield's father figure on many occasions, using him to strengthen their arguments. "One thing your father was rich in... was charm!" Laura doesn't mention it once, suggesting that she was the most affected by his loss, implying that she is in denial. This shows the extent of damage his actions have caused to the family. The effect of his father's departure on Tom is different from the effect it has on Laura and Amanda. Rather than a point of pain 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 leave the family. "I'm a bastard, son of a bastard!" Tom exclaims, implying that his need to escape his situation is simply to follow what his father has predestined for him. This mirroring.