Tom Joad and Tom Wingfield are both young men who support

their families in a struggling economy. While Joad and Wingfield both

eventually leave their families, they differ in motives for their

departure. Tom Joad deserts his family for selfless reasons, while Tom

Wingfield leaves his family for selfish reasons. Because Joad seems

content with his departure and Wingfield experiences lasting guilt, it is

clear that selfishly deserting ones family can have dire consequences.

Tom Joad and Tom Wingfield both support their families in a

struggling economy. Tom Wingfield is a young man who lives with his

overbearing mother, Amanda, and painfully shy younger sister, Laura.

After being abandoned by Mr. Wingfield, Amanda and Laura depend on

Tom to financially support the family. As it is the Great Depression,

jobs are scarce, and Tom is forced to work at a shoe warehouse – a job

he despises but must keep in order to fulfill his responsibilities. While

arguing with his mother, Tom vocalizes his feelings: “You think I’m in

love with the Continental Shoemakers… For sixty-five dollars a month I

give up all that I dream of and being ever! And you say self’s… all I

ever think of” (23). Tom’s financial responsibilities require him to work

a job that he clearly does not enjoy. The duty to support both his

mother and sister creates tension between Tom and his family,

because Tom longs for adventure rather than working his warehouse

job. Tom’s mother, Amanda, pressures him to support her as the play

continues: “I’ve had to put up a solitary battle all these years. But
you’re my right-hand bower! Don’t fall down, don’t fail!” (30). Without

a husband, Amanda has no other option than to rely on her son to bear

the finances of the Wingfield family. Torn between his dreams of

adventure and his responsibilities, Tom lives unhappily as the main

source of income for the Wingfields. Much like Tom Wingfield, Tom

Joad must support his family. After being evicted from their farm in

Oklahoma, the Joad family is forced to migrate west to California. Tom

Joad, the first-born son, is burdened with the responsibility of

supporting his desperate family. On the journey west, Tom assumes

the role of a family leader. Tom’s leadership is prominently displayed

after the Joads leave a migrant camp and must find a new place to

live. Pa Joad asks his son “Where we goin’, Tom?” to which Tom

replies, “Gonna look for that gov’ment camp… A fella said they don’ let

no deputies in there…” (280). Although Pa was previously the patriarch

of the family, he allows Tom to make important decisions about the

Joad’s living arrangements. In this scene, Tom takes his father’s role of

leading the family to a new home, showing that he is a large source of

support for the other Joads. Tom is also relied on by his mother, Ma

Joad. In much of The Grapes of Wrath, Ma takes control of the Joad

family. As the Joad’s journey continues, however, Ma reveals to Tom

that she often relies on him for support: “You got more sense, Tom. I

don’ need to make you mad. I got to lean on you. Them others –
they’re kinda strangers, all but you. You won’t give up, Tom” (353).

Unlike the other members of the Joad family,

Tom Wingfield inconsiderately abandons his family and Tom

Joad leaves his family for selfless reasons. Because Tom Joad is

content with leaving his family and Tom Wingfield experiences lasting

guilt, it is clear that selfishly leaving ones family can have dire

consequences. Throughout The Glass Menagerie, Tom Wingfield

speaks of abandoning Amanda and Laura because he longs both for

adventure and to be freed of his financial responsibilities. While

chatting with his coworker, Jim, Tom confesses, “I paid my dues this

month, instead of the light bill”. When Jim warns Tom that the lights

will be turned off, Tom only replies, “I won’t be here” (62).

“Oh Laura, Laura, I tried to leave you behind me, but I am more faithful

than I intended to be!” (97).

Unlike Wingfield, Tom Joad leaves his family selflessly and thus does

not experience guilt.