The Glass Menagerie: The Impact of the Father

I find the impact of Amanda's husband Tom and Laura's father the most evident in Scene 4 of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie. There are subtle signs of his impact on the family throughout the entire play, but in this scene they are directly stated, "And you - when I see you taking after his ways! Staying out late- and- well, you had been drinking the night you were in that-terrifying condition!". Amanda is declaring her fear that Tom might follow in his father's footsteps. She calls Tom her "right-had bower", expressing how much she and Laura both depend on him. Mother sees how much Tom hates his job as a factory worker and how much he longs for adventure. Tom says, "Man is by instinct a lover, a hunter, a fighter, and none of those instincts are given much play at the warehouse!". Tom needs adventure in his life, and the lack of adventure he sees from day to day is driving his imagination to places other than his home. Amanda is not he only one who sees this. Amanda tells Tom, "She has an idea that you're not happy here," in reference to Laura. Laura is very perceptive of her surroundings and sees Tom's unhappiness with his life, she also worries that he will imitate their father and leave the family. In my opinion, Tom seems to care far too much about his mother and sister to ever abandon them.