" The conflict between individual and society forms as important theme of " The Glass Menagerie". Discuss.

This is a twofold conflict is best represented by Tom's character. Tom's greatest conflict is one of expectations -vs- desires. He is expected to take care of the family (his mother and sister), and to do so at the expense of what he truly desires for his own life. In other words, he is expected to put aside everything he wants as an individual to take care of the women who cannot move past their own inner conflicts to take care of themselves. Thus, he continues to act as society expects and fulfills the cultural norms of his gender and role in society.