Toms Character as a Modern Tragic Hero in the Glass Menagerie - Essay Example

Tom’s caring nature shows in his expressions when his mother talks about his father – who ran away - and when Laura mentions her incapability of attracting a caller. Modern men don’t have much tolerance due to their luxurious lifestyle however they have a high sense of humor and they excessively use sarcasm. Pity is a quality man possesses today but actual care is mostly absent.             Later, Tom’s hobby of writing poetry is introduced.

When his mother starts checking him “You only have got one pair of eyes, got to take care of them………..Now, why can’t you sit up straight!”(Glass Menagerie, 2013) He loses his temper. He is sick of staying quiet and tired of the boring, monotonous routine of his everyday life“I mustn’t say anything; I’ve just got to keep quiet and let you do all the talking.”(Glass Menagerie, 2013) His behavior shows that he is disappointed with life.

He drowns himself in alcohol and movies to bring some excitement in it. It seems as if he had great expectations from himself but his lifestyle, circumstances, and fate had hindered him. He is so disappointed by his life that he is drowning himself in despair and hopelessness. He is impatient as he is not doing what he wants to do or maybe he is ashamed of working at a warehouse. The extent of his frustration can be deciphered from his dialogue where he prefers dying to live. “Every time you come in yelling that god damn  ‘rise and shine’, I  think to myself  ‘how lucky the dead people are!

’” (Glass Menagerie, 2013) His actions are undetermined and non-decisive as he had given up everything he had dreamed of“… I give up everything I’ve dreamed of doing or being ever!” (Glass Menagerie, 2013)However, when he gives reasons for his late-night returns his creativity ignites and we hear the most amusing justifications“ … opium dance…. I’ve joined a hooligan gang… I’m a hired assassin…. dynamic Zorro of the underworld.

” (Glass Menagerie, 2013) His temper is a negative trait in his personality as he forgets his manners, courtesy, and grace in rage. However, his attachment to his sister becomes evident from his expression of regret as he breaks Laura’s glass menagerie. It is also shown when he returns at night and presents her with a magician's scarf. He also tries to please his mother by inviting a gentleman caller to dinner as per her request. Tom’s behavior is reflected in all the struggling artists of nowadays.

Bad-temper, restlessness, frustration, annoyance are common traits. Many people today also suffer from suicidal thoughts due to their disappointments in life. His thoughts are reflected in his dialogue “It doesn’t take much intelligence to get yourself in a nailed up coffin, but who in hell would have gotten himself out of one without removing one nail?!”(Glass Menagerie, 2013)This question represents his inner struggles. He has to shoulder his responsibilities which are like a coffin.

  The nails are Laura and his mother. He wonders how he can free himself and chase his dreams without hurting Laura or his mother.             He is an ambitious, adventurous young man but his life is not filled with any of these qualities.  This makes him restless, frustrated and bad-tempered. His troubles led him to find some relief in smoking, alcohol, and movies “I go to the movies because I like adventures.” (Glass Menagerie, 2013)