Paragraph Three Flashcards
Although Tom has been planning this for some time his response to his mother leads to an emotional, impulsive, reaction.he tells Jim that he is ‘waking up’ and that he is starting to boil inside.
This is the beginning of the denouement, the point of no return. Tom has already sealed his fate, the lights go out.There is a dramatic irony, the lights switch off, we know that the reason for this is because Tom hasn’t paid the electricity bill. The lights act as a symbol, if Tom leaves, his mother and sister will be plunged into darkness- a poor existence with no hope.
Amanda brings Tom back on stage to accuse him of playing an ‘awfully funny trick’.
Did Tom deliberately bring Jim home to humiliate his mother and sister? Probably not. He just naively brought Jim home not. Knowing the impact that the visit would have.
Amanda accuses Tom again ‘you manufacture illusions’
Suggesting he lives in a dream world. Toms instinct is to immediately escape. He can’t bear to be called selfish and in a flash he’s gone. Tom abandons his mother and sister ending on a shocking, climactic finish.
Tom the character exits and Tom the narrator delivers his poignant, impassioned final monologue. He tells us that he has been ‘pursued by something’ ever since.
Even although he has physically escaped the apartment his emotions still linger. Tom feels guilty for abandoning his sister.
