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Does Tom seem to be a weak or a strong character? Does he arouse your cympathy, or so you think Williams wants you to dislike him? Explain.

In my opinion, Tom is a weak character. I understand that under his circumstances it might be hard to be strong, but still, he walked out on his family just as his dad did. Instead of trying to progressively deal with his problems and try to change something about his life, he is always going to the movies. His reason for going to the movies is to fulfill his need for adventure by watching actors and actresses experience unrealistic adventure. It is rather ironic that he says this for when he is having an emotional outburst with Jim in scene 6, this is what he says about people who go to the movies, "People go to the movies instead of moving!". He also deals with his problems by drinking like his father did. Although I do not think Tom is a strong character, I do have sympathy with him. He is shackled by his mother and sister for his father walked out and now he helps to support the family. Also, the fact that Laura is dependent makes it hard for him to move forward with his life, since he is worried about her well being. These are problems and responsibilities he shouldn’t have to be faced with at the age of 21; he should be creating a future for himself.
 * Ashley: Excellent job. Look at the irony in Tom's description of people who go to the movies (scene 6) Mrs. Sisemore

Response from Ashley W.** I very much agree with you that Tom is a weak-willed character. His circumstances are tough when he has both a mother and a sister that are dependent upon him, which is a stressful situation that I am sure no one would want to be in. However, he should have found a way to deal with his problems rather than turning to the "movies" everytime he wanted out of a tough situation. I do not agree, however, in having sympathy for him. True, he is shackled by dependent family members, but I do not believe that this should be a cause for him to leave the way he did. He, at 21 years old, should have taken the initiative to work against his self to be like his father; he should have taken care of Laura and Amanda instead of walking away.

Katie Howells: I would have to agree with the fact that Tom is very weak. But I, like you, feel sympathy for him because he's facing things that he shouldn't have to face as a 21 year-old. I also think that his worrying about Laura and Amanda is holding him back from doing things that he would really like to do, because he is worried about what will happen to them if he does leave. Although I feel sympathy for him, I don't think Williams wants you to dislike him because he WANTS you to feel sympathy for him, because he is going through things that we find unimaginable.

I agree that Tom is a weak person and could deal with his problems in a different manner; however, I also think that it was fair for him to leave his situation. He worked very hard and did not receive anything in return. His mother constantly told him that he was selfish, though he did nothing for himself. Although leaving his mother and sister was rather cowardly, I believe that was something that he needed to do in order to live his life the way he dreamed of and to be happy. This happens often in real life. Society tends to look at the people who leave their situations or turn to drugs or alcohol as an escape as cowardly; however, many people do not realize what that person is dealing with in their lives. I think sometimes leaving their situation may be their only chance for happiness. --Julia H.

Excellent comments from all of you.... Mrs. Sisemore