Goodnight Mister Tom

Tom and Will’s developing relationship benefits each character enormously, allowing them to recover from past wounds and traumas through the unconditional positive regard of the other. Initially, Tom is depicted as a gruff individual. He is impatient, bordering on rude, in his manner, and is viewed by his community as an anti-social recluse. This is established in the exposition when the Billeting Officer talks to Tom about taking in Will: “‘Mr. Oakley, with the declaration of war imminent…’ Tom waved his hand. ‘I knows all that. Git to the point. What d’you want?’” (9). Tom agrees to take on Will but continues to speak with impatience, as is illustrated by his “harsh” tone: “‘Come on in,’ repeated Tom harshly. ‘I ent got all day’” (10).

Tom is forced to confront the impact of his gruff manner when he sees Will’s obvious terror of him, such as when he handles the branch in the graveyard: “Willie automatically flung his arm across his face and gave a cry, but the blow he was expecting never came” (17). Tom’s inherent kindness and gentleness emerge through his gruff exterior as he comes to realize the extent of Will’s trauma. He gently cares for Will’s egregious wounds: “Tom gently washed Willie’s body again and smoothed witch hazel onto the sore spots” and patiently washes Will’s sheets every day after he wets the bed (65). Tom’s kindness is also shown when he buys new clothes for Will: “He looked at Willie’s mac on the way out and noticed how thin it was” (23). His investing in new clothes, pajamas, and shoes for Will illustrates Tom’s concern for Will’s comfort after noticing his inadequate clothing and footwear.

Tom’s kindness to Will, as well as the broader kindness of the community of Little Weirwold, is restorative to Will; he begins to grow in confidence and become less fearful. Tom challenges Will’s learned assumption that he is inherently dislikable and that no one would be interested in him: “Mum had said that if he made himself invisible people would like him and he wanted that very much” (94). Tom helps Will to form connections within the community and hosts a birthday party for him; his new community begins to convince Will that he is a likable person deserving of love and friendship, as is symbolized in the presents he gets for his birthday. Will is shocked by this show of love, as he is completely unaccustomed to it: “Willie was completely overcome. He sat down and stared at the gifts quite speechless” (109).

Will’s growing confidence is evident in his moments of self-expression, such as when he laughs for the first time, which Tom notes as significant: “Do you know, Mrs. Fletcher, last week he laughed. It were a bit of a nervous one like, but he actually laughed” (134). Later, Will volunteers to go with his friends on a badger-hunting trip, demonstrating uncharacteristic forthrightness: “‘I’d like to,’ blurted out Willie. They all stared at him in surprise. It was unusual for him to volunteer without persuasion” (141). Furthermore, Will stops wetting the bed, which is an important symbol of his growing confidence and sense of safety with Tom.

Tom, too, grows more open-hearted and happy as a result of his relationship with Will. This change is symbolized through Tom’s altered appearance:

His forehead had lost its furrowed look. The deep pitted wrinkles above his eyes had softened outwards. Behind his scowling manner was a kindly old man, and if it hadn’t been for the arrival of a rather insipid little boy, she might never have known (134).

Becoming a parent to Will reconnects Tom to a younger, more joyful, and playful version of himself; this is illustrated when Tom takes Will and Zach to the seaside and they bike down the hill toward Salmouth: “‘Let’s go,’ cried Tom, and he gave the tandem a sharp push forward” (245). Even the adjective, “cried,” illustrates a vivacity and enthusiasm not seen in the previously reserved Tom. This is further illustrated when the group dances with joy when they see the sea, including Tom: “Tom was dancing too” (245). Furthermore, Tom’s newfound silliness and zest for life is illustrated at Will’s 10th birthday party when he chases the children around his house, pretending to be a monster.

Will’s presence is also restorative for Tom in that it forces him to confront his long-repressed grief for the deaths of Rachel and his son, William; Tom realizes that he has been carrying this weight for decades and benefits from being forced to confront the repressed memories. This release is illustrated when Tom goes into the art shop, which he has avoided since Rachel’s death: “The odd thing was that, after he had entered the paint shop, he had felt as if a heavy wave of sadness had suddenly been lifted from out of him. Memories of her didn’t seem as painful as he had imagined” (110). Tom reflects, in a characteristically brusque manner, that Will’s influence has had a positive effect on his grief: “Trust a strange boy to soften him up” (110).