Many dramatic plays can often portray the attribute of loneliness to more than one character in the story. The drama "Tea and Sympathy" by author Robert Anderson reveals much evidence of characters who are lonely. This is also emphasized through Witkoski's criticism, "Anderson is the dramatist of loneliness- When an individual is isolated the characteristics of the individual is exposed.
Tom Lee, the main character of the play, becomes lonely after the incident of being seen nude with his professor Mr. David Harris by the dunes. This event causes everyone to question Tom's sexuality. "Look at the way he walks, the way he sometimes stands," (Anderson 20). This comment from Bill Reynolds, the Headmaster of the dormitory, shows that even adults can sometimes fall into childish rumors without knowing all the facts. These accusations cause Tom to become alone. The assumption also keeps him occupied with the question of him being a homosexual. .
Laura Reynolds, the wife of the Headmaster, is described as lonesome because of her first husband's death and Bill neglecting her needs as his wife. Laura tires to fill this void by nurturing Tom. She tells Tom, "He was killed being conspicuously brave . You"re very like him," (Anderson 38). Laura tells this to Tom because she sees a lot of similarities between Tom and her first husband. .
Another desolate character in this play is Bill Reynolds himself because of his concealed sexuality. Bill is afraid to come "out of the closet." His character seems to try to run away from the fact that he is homosexual by unintentionally provoking Tom for it. Laura proclaims to Bill, "Did it ever occur to you that you persecute in Tom, that boy up there, you persecute in him the thing you fear in yourself?" (Anderson 43). Bill felt abandoned when Laura would care for Tom and not Bill. "You were more interested in mothering that fairy up there than in being my wife," (Anderson 43).
