Good Night, Mr. Tom | Themes

Good Night, Mr. Tom Themes

Healing

Probably the most important theme in Good Night, Mr. Tom is the hopeful idea that people can heal from trauma, even deep and difficult trauma. Will arrives at Tom's house almost dead and worse than that, deeply traumatized from abuse. Mr. Tom understands that it takes time to heal, and he reassures Will that everything comes in its own time. At the same time that Will really does heal physically and emotionally from the abuse of his mentally-ill mother, Tom also heals from the deep loss of his beloved wife and son. Geoffrey has healed from the losses of family and friends and even a limb. Will eventually heals from losing the love of his friend, Zach.

Healing is not instant and not always easy. Tom is willing to allow Will to scream and thrash as he heals after his second terrible experience in London with his mother. He allows...
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