Tennessee Williams employs an ample arrangement of symbolism in The Glass Menagerie to define Tom, Amanda, Laura and Jim as nostalgic characters, whose ultimate purpose is to reveal a deeper meaning of self-satisfaction; Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun emphasizes the value of a dream as a repressive condition that escorts the Youngers' life into the turmoil of prejudice and stereotypes instituted by a white society.
             Williams uses the fire escape, dark alleys, glass menagerie and gentleman caller in the Glass Menagerie to convey the introverted lifestyle that Amanda has imposed on Laura and Tom. Williams describes the Wingfield residence: standing on an apartment block that resembles hive-like conglomerations of cellular living-units that continuously grow to produce an overcrowded center, discouraging fluidity and differentiation (Williams 3). The apartment is stationed among dark alleys overtly garnished with black-railed fire escapes. The dark alleys represent Amanda and Laura's antisocial tendency; for instance, Amanda rarely attends a D.A.R. meeting, and Laura remains untouched in the apartment with her glass animal collection. The fire escape is Tom's escape from his mother's incessant, idle chatter, allowing him an opportunity to open up to the outside world. Jim enters via the fire escape with Tom to the Wingfield dinner - the only occasion where the outside world is brought inside the apartment to Laura. From Amanda's perspective, Jim's entrance is a significant moment, for this is when a gentleman caller will enter and rescue her daughter from becoming a wench.
             Tom's nostalgia heightens as he leaves the apartment and wanders the streets to worry about Laura. Innocently, he ventures to the movies and composes poetry at the warehouse to escape the reality of his living at home as an adult with the immense responsibility of supporting his family with his paycheck. Amanda's request that Tom fin...