The Character of Tom Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie Tom Wingfield is a determined young man. He decided against all others, according to his family's wishes, that he wanted to leave the sad life of factory work, to pursue a chance in the Merchant Navy. He realizes that he would have run away like his father and that's probably the only thing that kept him from leaving for so long. Amanda, Tom's mother, knows deep down that the day is coming when Tom will leave. She says, "But not until there's someone to take your place." She wants him to take care of Laura, if not herself. At that point in the play Tom is the breadwinner of the family and up to this point Tom is the disadvantaged child who wants to get ahead. He wants to pursue his dream, a more adventurous life. Tom was a nice character until we find out that he didn't pay the electricity bill with the expected money. When Jim is done and says "I paid my dues this month, instead of the electric bill." At this point, Tom becomes a more selfish character. There is less sympathy towards him. In fact, this is probably where we feel a little more sorry for Amanda. Amanda probably didn't do everything right for her family, but her intentions were always good. Tom has lost his patience and wants to continue his journey now. There is no waiting to save money for dues. He doesn't stop going to the cinema for a week or smoking to save money. He gets money for the electricity bill. We know this is a big deal and that he has intentionally hurt his family at this point. He knows he has put himself in a position where he can no longer go back. Now he has to go. As if to make things right somehow, he says, "I'm like my father." The bastard son of a bastard! See how he smiles? And he has been absent for sixteen years!" Now we know that he has no intention of returning. He has justified his feeling of no obligation to his family by saying that he naturally understands it. He is his father's son. Of course we have to decide whether Tom he has a choice. Tom is dying where is he? His family is full of dysfunction and he wants to help Laura too.