Tom’s journey does not seem to bring the escape and excitement that he had always longed for. He says, “The cities swept about me like dead leaves..” This description does not sound as though it comes from a traveller who is ecstatic about visiting different parts of the world. Cities are anything but dead; on the contrary, they are vibrant and full of life, and persons who are artistically inclined tend to be attracted to bustling cities. By categorising all the cities as dead leaves, Tom classifies them as similar entities in which he notices no individuality, uniqueness or excitement. He cannot relish in the beauty of these cities because of the circumstances surrounding it. Indeed, Tom does not relay any feelings of pleasure or satisfaction with respect to his travels. The main reason for his disillusionment is because of the regret and remorse he feels for leaving his family, but especially for abandoning Laura. He says, “..I was pursued by something.” This statement is definitely ironic as he initially embarked on this journey in an effort to pursue his own dreams. Now, however, he cannot do so with the peace of mind and clear conscience he had hoped for, and must instead live daily with memories of his beloved sister and feelings of regret for leaving her. This torment overshadows any measure of freedom he could have gained as a result of leaving his home.
Tom also mentions two elements that are associated with his sister throughout the play. In his speech, he tries to identify things that would remind him of Laura: “Perhaps it was a familiar bit of music, Perhaps it was only a transparent piece of glass..” Laura would always play old records on her victrola, and she lovingly cherished her collection of glass figurines. Wherever he goes, Tom associates glass and music with his sister, and this serves to only bring back haunting memories of the sister he left behind. One must conclude that the escape he so fervently sought now seems to have become his prison.
The reader can discern that Tom’s torment is at its worst when he is not surrounded by friends or engaging in some activity, both of which distract his thoughts from Laura. Even when he is walking along a street, he cannot help but be reminded of her: “ I pass along the lighted window of a shop where perfume is sold. The window is filled with pieces of glass, tiny transparent bottles in delicate colours, like bits of a shattered rainbow.” It is ironic that he likens her to a shattered rainbow. He knows that his departure has left Laura in a world of turmoil, and his voluntary neglect of her has shattered her world.
Tom has not been able to fully let go of the life he left behind. The future he always wanted is tainted with elements of his past, namely his sister. What he hoped would be his reality is fused with elements of a dream world. Tom seems to “see” Laura. He says, “..all at once my sister touches my shoulder. I turn around and look into her eyes…” Her presence, and her image, will not let him fully escape, and he describes these visions of her as though they really do occur, which the reader knows is not possible. Additionally, it seems as though he spends most of his time in a surreal state, wandering around with feelings of guilt constantly on his mind. Thus, his past penetrates his present reality in the form of illusions or daydreams, and one must question how much of his new life is comprised of reality/ the extent to which the substance of his new life is reality.
When Laura blows out the candles, it signifies the end to any hope that she could have a happy life. She and her mother must now fend for themselves. Laura must always live in the shadow of her brother’s escape, and she will most likely carry this pain for the rest of her life. It also symbolises Tom’s final farewell to her.
Essentially, this monologue reveals that Tom’s escape has not been as complete or as perfect as he had hoped. While he has escaped the physical limitations of the Wingfield apartment and the restrictions of his job at the warehouse, memories from his past and feelings of regret seem to create an intangible prison for Tom. He has been unable to remove himself from the coffin and leave all the nails untouched, as was his former desire. His statement of “I am more faithful than I intended to be!” alludes to the fact that he is fully cognisant that he has left his family to struggle with the consequences of his departure. The Glass Menagerie ends with Tom’s life being exactly opposite to the one he had foreseen when he planned his escape.
