In the book The Glass Menagerie, the main characters want to leave behind what they are used to in order to pursue their own personal goals. Tom is a character who wishes to leave his home to follow in his father's footsteps, but is forced to stay to support his family. He feels the need to abandon all his problems and change the fate of his life. Through the symbol of the fireplace, Tennessee Williams suggests that people want to escape the confines of reality to pursue their dreams, but are held back by their sympathetic emotions. Tom's attachment to the fire escape portrays his need to free himself from life's obstacles but does not want his family to suffer. Tom continually goes to the fire escape when he can't face reality. As Tom introduces the house to the public, he declares: “The apartment faces a fire escape, a structure whose name is a touch of accidental poetic truth, for all these great buildings are always burning slow, relentless fires of human desperation ” (3). “Human desperation” represents the problems that people face on a daily basis. These obstacles are like a “fire”, they become bigger and bigger. As the fire grows, Tom's desire to leave becomes stronger. Fire is a symbol of reality. Reality is full of difficulties that Tom chooses not to accept. He believes that leaving will allow him to get rid of obstacles. One of his difficulties is his mother's criticism. She always tells him what to do and argues with Tom because he can't forget past problems. He also feels trapped by his job. Tom works in a warehouse just for his family but he doesn't want to live like this forever. He wants to do what his father did and be freed from his restrictions, but he can't do it. Each…half of the paper…still feels guilty for leaving Laura behind. Tom cannot ignore his feelings towards Laura and agree to let her go. Tom is physically able to escape his past and reality, but he is unable to escape emotionally. Furthermore, a new life, full of opportunities and personal goals, also presents problems. Tom says he does everything he can to keep busy so he can forget what he left behind. He is still not entirely satisfied with his life. Tennessee Williams shows that people tend to look for a way to escape their world of agony, but remorse holds them back. The fire escape symbolizes Tom's inability to truly leave. Facing reality is the only way people can solve their problems and escape them. People can still have their ambitions, but they shouldn't let them interfere with their present life. Running away doesn't solve anything. They will still remain caught in the traps of reality.