Tom Wingfield the narrator and a character in The Glass Menagerie felt torn between the loyalty to his mother and sister or finding his own identity. He was forced at a young age to be the man of the house and was expected to help support the family. They lived in an overcrowded lower mid-class area in Saint Louis, Missouri. Tom struggled to fit in during an era that was very difficult, the Great Depression had just hit and the world was on its way to World War II. Tom became tired of all the weight on his shoulders from his mother, work and not having a father around.
             Tom's mother, Amanda, continually picked at Tom's every action, which made him frustrated and wanted to get away from her. To help escape his frustrations he sometimes would write poetry or just go outside and have a smoke. Tom worked in a warehouse, where his routine was the same everyday, so after work he would go to the movies to add some adventure to his life. As Tom put it very well, "People go to the movies instead of moving! Hollywood characters are supposed to have all the adventures for everybody in America, while everybody in America sits in a dark room and watches them have them!" (Williams). Tom was also mad and confused at his father for just leaving them alone and having to fend on their own. At times, he just wanted to do the same thing but knew that his mother and sister counted on him so much.
             Amanda loved to reminisce and brag about the times when she was younger and how rich gentlemen callers would be lined up to see her. This made Tom angry and doubtful that she was telling the truth. He was tired of hearing about it and knew it made Laura, his sister, feel rejected and undesirable. Laura was two years older then he and was crippled which made her insecure and isolated from the outside world.
             The forces that restrained Tom from following his bliss was the love for his family, the feeling to be needed and fear
             ...