In many books there are characters who try to contend with a parent's pressure

because the parent does not understand them. "I am alive; therefore, I have a right to be

myself" is often what the character is saying.

In the Play "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Wiliams, Tom is held back this

way by his mother Amanda. Amanda is constantly correcting Tom on how to eat his food

and telling him not to smoke. Tom is also being told to find a gentleman caller for his

sister Laura. His mother did not treat him like an adult instead as a child. She often called

him selfish. When he brought Jim his friend from work home, who Laura had a crush on

since high school he was not aware that he was engaged, and Amanda said he knew all

along, and he just wanted to hurt them. Amanda thought he was playing a cruel joke but

honestly he did not know about this and Laura was hurt by this greatly.

As an escape from his life in the house he drank and went to the movies. He stayed

and watched the magician escape from a nailed coffin without removing a single nail. This

is how he wanted get out of his life. He wanted to leave without hurting anyone in the

house. This is how he eventually leaves his family but it does not work as he wanted it to

and his family is hurt by his actions.

"I am alive; therefore, I have the right to be myself" Tom felt this way because

Amanda was always controlling him. He felt trapped in the house and had to leave.

He could not withstand the pressure put on him by his mother Amanda. he wanted to be

like Mavoli, the magician at the movie theater, and get out of his life without removing a

nail or hurting a single person in his family especially Laura.