The Glass Menagerie

     In The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams I started to connect the story of the magician with Tom's own life.  Like the magician, Tom is trapped.  He is trapped at home and at work, and he is nervous to let himself free because he does not want to hurt his family.  Escape seems impossible for Tom, and he remains conflicted until the end of the play.  The magician is able to free from his coffin, not hurting himself or any of the nails.  Tom knows that he cannot escape his life without hurting his family or himself.  He asks Laura, "who in hell ever got himself out of one without removing one nail?" (1249). I think that Tom realizes that no matter what he decides, he cannot make everyone happy.  If he stays, confined and unhappy, then he will only hurt himself.  However, if he leaves then he will hurt the ones he loves.  By the end of the play, Tom decides to free himself, but I feel as if he might not be totally free.