Is Tom considered selfish?

As we seen so far in The Glass Menagerie, the family has become highly dependent upon Tom in the absence of their father.  Due to the fact that they don't have any other male role model or provider, they look to Tom for support and to act as that role model.  After a while of his mother and younger sister looking to him for money and support, he gets overwhelmed with the pressure.  Tom starts going to the "movies" which he is actually going out to get drunk without his family knowing.  He is planning on moving out, yet his family thinks of this as a selfish move.  What do you think?

Scene 1 in "The Glass Menagerie"

In Scene 1, viewers are introduced to Tom, an outgoing man who is following his dreams as a playwright, but is conflicted with personal problems of helping his family, particularly his sister Laura who is an unstable condition dealing with her childhood issues. Amanda, Laura's and Toms mother, is lost in an reality due to her children and is continually trying to have Laura get married and Tom who is now the family caregiver to provide the family with emotional and economic freedom. Why is Tom so important to his sister and mothers well-being? Was the lack of a father the reason or was there are internal conflict that caused the family to slowly but steadily depart from the father? Thoughts?

The ending

Considering what has happened, will Lena finally be "free" and will Joe Christmas be remembered or was he an old story-telling like Hightower?

Byron's Choice in Chapter 18

I will keep this short and allow lengthy text to ensue in the comments, fingers crossed. Why do you believe Byron chose to pursue Brown after supposedly cutting all ties with Lena and his past in Jefferson?

Christmas

Having most of the stories conflicts center around him, or be a byproduct of his actions, Christmas remains controversial. You could say he is catalyzing change, but there is a glaring lack of intent in any good he does cause. While on the other hand there is obvious premeditation in every damaging action he commits. Most want to see him as a victim, and sympathize with the circumstances he was given. However, he is only one victim, and he has caused countless others to be victims of his own misdeeds. So at what point should the reader's sympathy end? And how long will we excuse his actions?

The Hines

In chapter 16 we find out that the Hines are the grandparents of Christmas. We also found out what happened to Christmas as a baby and why he was in the orphanage in the first place. Long story short, Christmas mother (Milly) died while giving birth and soon after Mr. Hines left for some time. When he came back it was only for a moment, then he left again only he took the baby with him this time. Mrs. Hines didn't hear from him for a long time, so she just waited for him in hopes that he'd come back, and he did, but Christmas was gone. He told Mrs. Hines that they were moving and that was the last time she saw Christmas, until now. Now that they have seen him after all those years, Mr. Hines wants him dead and Mrs. Hines wants to see to him. What are your thoughts on the Hines?

Mr. Hightower and Byron

As we see in Chapter 13, Mr. Hightower is starting to realize that Byron has different intentions for Lena Groove than providing that Christian help like anyone else would do, should they interfere.  Before Byron enters the door he knows that when he leaves after speaking to Mr. Hightower that he will not be welcome again.  While explaining the latest news to Mr. Hightower Byron tells him how Lena already knew that Brown was no good.  He didn´t have to hide it from her, she knew and still wanted what Brown might provide for her and the child.  Byron doesn´t approve of such and is planning to come in between of the two before Brown knows about the baby.  ´´No,´´ Hightower says.  ´´You don´t need my help. You are already being helped by someone stronger than I am.´´  For a moment Byron does not speak.  They look at one another, steadily.  ´´Helped by who?´´  ´´By the devil,´´  Hightower says.  Mr. Hightower knows that Byron is going down a dark and reckless path, yet does nothing to stop.  He tries to explain the immorality of what Byron indirect actions are but he´s too niave to see.  Do you agree this is the path that he´s going?