Tom's Midnight Garden Social Sensitivity

Phillipa Pearce
This Study Guide consists of approximately 10 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Tom's Midnight Garden.

Tom's Midnight Garden Social Sensitivity

Phillipa Pearce
This Study Guide consists of approximately 10 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Tom's Midnight Garden.
This section contains 225 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page)
Buy the Tom's Midnight Garden Short Guide

Pearce shows a genuine concern for the negative aspects of class consciousness. Hatty's aunt is an extreme example; she regards her niece as a charity case and warns her sons against ever marrying her. The aunt's snobbery extends to the gardener, whom she regards as "stupid as a cow in a meadow." While Abel and the cows can see Tom when he visits the garden in the past, the aunt is too insensitive to see him or sense his presence.

Pearce is also aware of destructive changes in society, such as urbanization and the dangers of increased pollution. The image of the dirty pavement filled with dustbins as the modern successor to the idyllic garden is a striking example. Tom's Aunt Gwen attributes the change to the increase in the number of factories.

Pearce addresses prejudice as an adjunct to her theme of youth and age...

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This section contains 225 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page)
Buy the Tom's Midnight Garden Short Guide
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Tom's Midnight Garden from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.