Wingfields Absent Father in The Glass Menagerie by...

Wingfields Absent Father in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams Mr. Wingfield plays a relatively prominent throughout the play. His decision to leave the Wingfield household has left lasting effects on the rest of his family. This has helped in establishing certain themes and issues in the play. The mentioning of his character in almost every scene throughout the play suggests its role in the action of the play. However, I would not agree to the view that he is the most important character in the play. Williams’s stage directions explaining the details of the setting of the Wingfield apartment states ‘a blown-up photograph of the father hangs on the wall of the living room’. The size of†¦show more content†¦When Tom introduces the characters in the play, he includes his father as one of them although clearly stating that he is not going to appear on stage. Tom also gives a brief description of his father, helping to establish a lasting impression on the audience after seeing the photograph which Williams has described to be â€Å"blown-up† and Tom describes as â€Å"larger-than life†. Mr. Wingfield is described by Tom as a â€Å"telephone man who fell in love with long distances†, â€Å"gave up his job with the telephone company and skipped the light fantastic out of town†. In addition to that, Tom provides us in his opening narration information about the postcard from his father containing the message of two words  "Hello – Goodbye!† From Tom’s narration, we see the lasting effects of Mr. Wingfield’s abandonment on Tom. Tom is unable to forget what his father has done and his memory of the details of the photograph and the postcard highlights his feelings of displeasure towards his father.As the play develops, we see Mr. Wingfield being a contributing factor to Tom’s departure from the Wingfield household. In fact, Tom cites his father as both an example and excuse for his departure. In scene 6, Tom explains to Jim â€Å"I’m like my father. The bastard son of a bastard!† As mentioned earlier, Mr. Wingfield’s departure has left an impact on every family member and Amanda isShow MoreRelatedA Comparison of Tennessee Williams ´ The Glass Menagerie and Arthur Miller ´s Death of a Salesman1158 Words   |  5 Pages The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams and Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller are two of the twentieth century’s best-known plays. The differences and similarities between both of the plays are hidden in their historical and social contexts. The characters of The Glass Menagerie and the Death of a Salesman are trapped by the constraints of their everyday lives, unable to communicate with their loved ones and being fearful for their future. 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