Final answer:
The gentleman caller symbolizes the perennial hope and anticipation for a pivotal event or person that will transform life, a theme commonly found in literature, demonstrated by characters awaiting significant change.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gentleman caller in the context of the play symbolizes hope and the universal human drive to seek out the fulfillment of one's desires and dreams, despite delays or setbacks. He embodies the "long delayed, but always expected something that we live for," which represents the optimism and anticipation for good things to come, a common theme in literature. Characters in plays and novels often look forward to a pivotal event or person that they believe will transform their circumstances.
Characters such as Nora from 'A Doll's House,' who waits patiently for years in hope of a 'wonderful thing' to happen, or Jane in a state of 'secret oppression' hoping for a savior, clearly illustrate how individuals can hold onto belief and expectation of a better future. Similarly, this notion of expectation is seen in Willy Loman's representation of the 'common man' aspiring for a more significant existence. All these examples from literature reflect the essential human condition of striving for a moment or event that brings change or redemption.