The Glass Menagerie: Internal War Tom faces many conflicts on his way to fulfilling his desires for life. He lives with his mother and sister in a dimly lit apartment, which is surrounded by alleys in the flats of St. Louis. His life is a humble one working at the shoe warehouse while taking care of his mother and sister. But, inside he is starting to boil because he wants more out of life. Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie shows this internal power struggle that Tom is going through. Tom’s uncontrollable desire to see the world led to his walking out and leaving everyone behind. Tom has inner conflicts about himself that deal with who he is