Publication Date
Fall 9-23-2025
Presentation Length
15 minutes
College
College of Music & Performing Arts
Department
Theatre and Dance, Department of
Student Level
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Jim Al-Shamma
Presentation Type
Talk/Oral
Summary
This essay is an exploration of the play The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, through a feminist lens that offers a new interpretation of the famous play, supported by evidence from Williams’s own personal history, feminist interpretations of Williams’s work, and the discussion of what a protagonist really is. I argue that Tom, who is traditionally considered the protagonist, operates as an unreliable narrator and, therefore, the antagonist to Amanda and his sister Laura, impeding their happiness and sense of well-being. I propose that The Glass Menagerie is not about a man defying societal expectations or choosing happiness in the face of adversity. It is not about the cost of freedom or the artist’s inescapable call. Rather, it is about a man riddled with grief for the suffering he has caused his family by leaving them. It is a glimpse into his ritual of returning, presumably often, to the events that led to the desertion of his family, as he tries to retrieve the justification he once felt underpinned his liberation. In actuality, he is telling a story about when he was the villain. Indeed, a protagonist does not need to be a likable character, but they must satisfy other conditions required of a protagonist, which Tom does not. His mother, Amanda, however, does.
Recommended Citation
Bevell, Genevive K., "Tom Wingfield is the Villain: A Re-Examination Of The Glass Menagerie" (2025). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 651.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/651
