The Glass Menagerie and Native Son

In both books, it is apparent that none of the characters are happy with the life they are living. For example, in Native Son, Bigger resents white people for the restrictions they place upon him. He doesn't want to be treated differently just because of his skin color. This is shown when he is admiring the plane flying through the sky, and expresses his desire to be able to fly to his friend. Also, in Native Son, the mother wishes that she could provide better for her children. She pressures Bigger to take the job at the Dalton's house, so they can have more money for food and maybe, eventually, a better place to live. In The Glass Menagerie, Amanda lives in the past. She constantly tells stories about all the "gentleman callers" and "Blue Mountain". Tom despises his workplace, and as a grown man, he doesn't seem happy about the fact that he is still living with his mother. Laura is insecure with herself, and feels that she is going to grow up alone. In both books it seems like all the characters are trying to look for an escape from themselves. For example, in The Glass Menagerie, it seems as if Amanda is trying to relive her past through her children. In Native Son, however, Bigger is trying to escape his resent of white people by working for the Dalton's, which only leads to worse things.

Jackie Krukowski