“Crisis in Paternity”: Abjected Mothers and Creating the Self in Suddenly Last Summer and the Glass Menagerie

Abstract

This article examines the paternal crisis in self-formation and subject development in Tennessee Williams’ characters: Suddenly Last Summer and The Glass Menagerie. Based on Kristeva’s theory, it is apparent that Williams’ characters are deprived of the skill to love and communicate with other people because they lack what Kristeva calls the ability to “Abject” and separate themselves from their mothers to create their own independent self. Abnormal attachment to their mothers causes a defect in their “Screen of Emptiness,” leading to the absence of formation of the “Imaginary Father” concept. This concept is responsible for guiding the child to form appropriate social skills. Tom, Laura, and Sebastien lack the ability to identify with the ‘Imaginary Father’ whose significant role is to occupy the “Psychic Space” which guides the child through social interaction with others.