Goodnight Mr Tom Analysis Essay Example

artistic talents, and most importantly, feel protected and loved. It is through this way that he is healed by Mr Tom’s love. Mr Tom provides Willie with unconditional love which acts as a powerful antidote to Willie’s scars. The unconditional love acknowledges and accepts Willie.

His mother’s love was unconditional, as it did not accept Willie as a child that should talk back, ask questions, ask for help, befriend girls and Jews, or a child that should be loved.His mother dismisses the fact that Willie is innocent, and as a result, she has inflicted physical and emotional scars on Willie. Contrarily, Mr Tom loves Willie regardless of how fit he is, his literacy skills, or even if he threated to kill his dog, Sammy. Mr Tom’s love stems beyond the surface, and recognises Willie as an innocent boy.

Despite Willie’s strange behaviours such as bed-wetting, Mr Tom does not beat him. Instead, he “stripped them (urine-drenched bed sheets) off the mattress, and sluiced Willie’s body tenderly with cold water and soap (p42).Mr Tom understands the suffering that Willie has endured. Thus, he gives him many sentimental objects such as “paints and brushes” (p146) for his birthday, not as an act of pity, but unconditional love. It is through this way that he is healed by Mr Tom’s love.

Opposing views claim that Willie’s friends, especially Zach, have had a greater impact on Willie’s healing. One cannot deny that they didn’t have a role in Willie’s healing as they were all close friends who understood each other.Nevertheless, as Mr Tom is the guardian and carer of Willie, as well as a kind father figure, he is

definitely the closest individual to Willie whose relationship extends beyond friendship. Therefore, Willie is healed primarily by Mr Tom’s love.

Initially, Willie appeared as lifeless and loveless, the product of 9 years of suffering, abuse and neglect. It is Mr Tom that changed him; through assisting him defeat his hurdles, and providing him with unconditional, faithful love, that Willie has grown into a robust, young man with a bright, new start to life.