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The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams is a play of high importance for modern literature. The author depicts characters in a manner that they all, in some ways, possess characteristics of tragic heroes with the hardships they are forced to face in life. However, Tom explicitly shows all traits that correspond to the classic definition of a tragic hero by Aristotle.
According to Aristotles vision of a tragic hero in his book Poetics, such a character has to fit specific requirements like making mistakes that consequently lead to destructive outcomes, having pride and disgust for the natural order ( Tragic hero as defined by Aristotle ). Thus, the most important trait that has to be present in a tragic hero is their constant suffering, with no hope for a better life. Tom Wingfield perfectly combines Aristotles ideas in his character and can be confidently defined as a tragic hero of The Glass Menagerie.
In Williams play, Tom has both good and evil inside of him, which shows off by different life misfortunes he continually faces. Being the only man in the family, Tom feels responsible for his mother and sister, and such circumstances hold him back from pursuing his happiness. The role of a victim quickly overtakes Toms character, becauseiseing the only male authoritative figure in the entourage of two females unable to face the ever-changing world outside. As a talented, creative person, who has all chances of becoming a genius writer, Tom is compelled to be stuck in these difficult situations without the ability to reach his full potential due to the constant commitment to be the breadwinner.
When looking from the perspective of Toms everyday life, he works long hours wasting his life in the warehouse, when instead, he could realize his ambitions of becoming a writer. Toms hard life instantly calls for sympathy from the audience to his devastatinglife situationn. Staying at home for the hero is at times is a worse tournament than the job, Tom is a hostage of circumstances. The audience can sense the frustration Tom is feeling towards his mother. In particular, they have a complicated relationship and viciously fight at times. Every time you come in yelling that god damn rise and shine, I think to myself how lucky the dead people are! (Williams, p. 755). Breakdowns come from a place of hopelessness Tom cannot change, he cannot stand the monotonous routine and gradually becomes more disappointed with life.
Drowning problems in alcohol have become usual for the tragic hero of The Glass Menagerie. Alcohol and cigarettes give Tom the relief and an opportunity to escape reality for some time, which is too cruel to handle for him. A young man seeks to escape from the routine in late movie screenings that do not seem that appealing to his mother. However, Tom finds going to the movies relaxing, he says, I go to the movies because I like adventures (Williams, p. 763). Life hardships faced by Tom and the ways he copes with uneasy fate prove that he is a tragic hero of the play.
The last argument that proves Tom to be a tragic hero is his life-changing decision to leave his mother and sister to seek adventures not only in the movies. Laura and Amanda became hopeless and alone after Tom left to pursue the great unknown and run away from the unbearable life challenges. Once more by such hurtful actions, Tom proves to be the tragic hero of this dramatic play.
Concluding, with such a combination of tragic life events, complicated family relationships, inability to pursue ambitions, and evident emotional instability, Tom can be confidently considered a tragic hero of The Glass Menagerie. A young man evokes the feeling of pity and sadness when reading about the hardships he has to face and combines all characteristics of a tragic hero.
References
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Williams, Tennessee. The Glass Menagerie. Random House Inc., 1973, pp. 749-764.
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Tragic Hero as Defined by Aristotle. Bainbridge Island School District.
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