Rights and responsibilities are intertwined to the point of there being no separation possible. Tom's right to a career and future of his own choosing must be balanced against his responsibilities to Amanda and Laura. Neither woman is capable of maintaining a life of their own; their both utterly dependent upon Tom.
Any person in the "sandwich" generation can relate perfectly to this situation. An adult child wants the freedom to life their life as they see fit. They work for the money they make. They take care of their own homes, children, and vehicles. When the child's parent becomes needy, whether it be for financial, emotional, or health reasons, the adult child feels the responsibility of parental care tugging from two different directions.
I've felt pity for Tom since first reading this play because of my own background. First-hand experience is a great teacher.
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