Tom, therefore, acted with painful honesty by committing himself to a life that excluded the shoe warehouse, the inert audiences in movie houses, and a direct and enervating contact with his family. Tom, being aware of the "boiling" within himself, knew that he had to act quickly or else be stifled by his environment. He realized that his own creative abilities and his sensitivity were being destroyed by his surroundings. Furthermore, he knew that if he didn't act, he would suffer regret, unhappiness, and a complete deterioration of his natural creative abilities.
Tom's rejection of his family was not a selfish, egocentric escape. Instead, Tom recognized that he must escape in order to save himself. It was a means of self-preservation. He knew that if he stayed, he would be destroyed as a man and as an artist. But as man and artist, and as a sensitive individual, he has never been able to forget his life and especially the delicate charm and loveliness of his sister.
