People are constantly struggling to free themselves from the traps in which they and society trap them. Looking through the lens in which Tom revisits his memories, readers see that his experiences reinforce the observation that Tom is the most trapped in the entire Glass Menagerie. Tom constantly retreats to the movies as an escape mechanism, but can only temporarily escape from his house, not from the life he leads. Tom is bombarded with responsibilities that tie him to his family and is burdened by the trappings of society that await his submission. Tom is finally able to escape his home, but is unable to escape the traps that his family, his society, and himself have trapped him in. Infinitely trapped by society, responsibilities, and guilt, Tom is ultimately the most tightly trapped in the Glass Menagerie. , constantly looking for an escape from reality. Trapped by the expectations society places on him, Tom is unable to rightfully escape his family. Tom's father, who had abandoned the family years before, is shown outside the house as a painful reminder of their broken family. As Eric Levy explains in his article “Through Soundproof Glass: The Prison of Self-Awareness,” his portrait hanging in the house reminds Amanda and Laura of what was, but for Tom, of what could be; the father was able to escape his family and their burdens, and therefore reflects Tom's ultimate desires (Levy, 4). However, it is clear that society expects the family man to protect and support his family. The father image ultimately reinforces the selfishness and immorality of leaving his family, and although it tempts Tom to follow in her footsteps, she dissuades him from doing so, fearing ... middle of paper ... . . the room. Although Amanda and Laura clearly struggle with their traps, Tom's family, society, and himself manage to ensnare him in traps that he is unable to transcend. Society imposes the belief that Tom cannot legitimately leave his family, while the family itself traps him financially and also manipulates his guilt into a trap. Therefore, when Tom finally escapes, he cannot transcend the guilt that binds him to home. With the fear of being trapped again tormenting his mind, Tom is never able to escape his traps in the first place. Tom's attributes depended on society, his family, his guilt, as well as the attributes of his family members, making it almost impossible for him to escape on his own. Considering the attributes of Tom, Amanda, and Laura allows the reader to see the characters in their own light, rather than being blinded by Tom's point of view..