In the “Glass Menagerie,” I found myself feeling pity towards Tom Wingfield. During the play you learn that he enjoyed reading and writing poetry. He would write poetry at his job at the warehouse which eventually led to his termination. From what little was told about Tom's education I knew that poetry was something he held close to his heart. His mother on the other hand was not fond nor supportive of his interest. Tom confronted his mother for taking his books, and this was her response, “I took that horrible novel back to the library-yes! That hideous book by the insane Mr. Lawrence. I cannot control the output of diseased minds or people who cater to them. BUT I WON'T ALLOW SUCH FIFTH BROUGHT INTO MY HOUSE!” (1005). Tom felt as though he had given everything he had to his mother and sister but got nothing for himself. He got up every morning and went to a warehouse job that he despised to support his family. He would have liked nothing more than to have been free like his estranged father. His nights were spent at the movies desperately seeking the adventure that he had seen on the screen. To me, Tom wanted to be free from his responsibilities to his family and do as he pleased. He knew that it was only a matter of time before he followed in his father's footsteps, which meant leaving his family behind. When Tom was fired from his warehouse job for writing poetry he embarked on his new journey away from his family. Tom never showed any type of love towards his family, but I knew that he truly cared about them. As the play came to an end I got the sense that he was very distraught about leaving Laura. “ Then all at once my sister touches my shoulder. I turn around and look into her eyes....Oh, Laura, Laura, I tried to leave you behind me, but I am more faithful than I intended to be!”(1048).
