Goodnight Mister Tom: Michelle Magorian.
Overview.
One of the joys of tutoring English is that I read lots of texts that I might have missed. Reading is a great privilege; I particularly admire the wonderful range of children’s authors that can enrich years 6/7/8. Here is one brilliant experience I had missed: Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian. It is gripping, reflective; alternately drenched in hope and then sadness. Like the spectacularly good Katherine Rundell, ( Rooftopppers is one of my favourite books!) the writer never treats her readers with anything other than the utmost respect.
The novel is set during the Second World war and traces the transformation of the protagonist, William Beech, from a shy, desperately frightened child who has been violently abused by his mentally unstable mother, to a confident, adventurous, loving boy. The transformation is brought about by the nurturing relationship that Will develops with his guardian, Tom Oakley, whose initial wariness at taking on an evacuee, changes into a deep and enduring affection, culminating in the father/son relationship we witness at the end. Interestingly, in saving Will, Tom saves himself as he has been a recluse since his young wife and child died tragically and the rescue of Will is also a resurrection of himself.
The irony is that the war in the wider world is also repeated in a war inside the characters too. The mother’s obsession with religion is an indication of her struggle with her mental health. This struggle is like a ‘war’ as it nearly destroys poor Will and leads to the death of her baby and herself. The war also leads to the tragic death of Zach whose friendship has been so essential to the growth of Will.
Healing and sacrifice are shown as being tragically interwoven in the novel. Perhaps this is why the novel is so moving to read and has proved so popular with readers.
The novel reveals the power of nurturing love and daily care, as well as the healing created by the renewal of trust.
The rapidity of the changes to Will is a little like the book of Genesis. The new world of ‘Little WeirWold’ brings new creation into being: ‘William Beech’ who will no longer be the sickly terrified child.
It does read like a miracle!
Important quotations and their significance.
Early on.
‘War imminent.’ (1) the conflict in the world precipitates the life-changing meeting between Tom and Will. ‘Church’ is mentioned as the reason behind the choice of the old widower as the carer for Will. It also emphasises the preoccupation of Will’s mother with religion though we come to realise her view is very distorted.
‘The boy was thin and sickly looking.’ The initial impression of Will is that he is a deeply neglected child. Will regards Tom metaphorically as a ‘towering giant’ so we can see the contrast between the healthy ways of the country and the very negative ways of the city of London.
The series of scars on the child’s body is noticed by Tom but he is sensitive to the boy’s shame and doesn’t ask him questions about their origin. The healing of the bruises and scars through the novel is both literal as Tom tends to them and metaphorical, as Will is treated with respect and kindness.
Kindness is practically demonstrated almost immediately by the ‘mark’ on the wall engineered by Tom so the young Will can have a peg and feel he has a new home, somewhere to belong. It also contrasts to ned the end, (cyclical structure) when the last words of the novel declare, ‘Dad…I’m growing!’
Nature is all new to Will. In the churchyard, he watches a ‘squirrel’ and then he sees Sammy and cries, ‘I’ll kill you’ as his mother has corrupted his attitude to dogs.
As the boy becomes more comfortable, he befriends Sammy and this is part of his healing and transformation.
Little Weirwold/Saturday Morning/Equipped Chamberlain Announces.
The new world seems very strange to Will. ‘It was all very bewildering.’ This indicates that he is aware of the huge change between the brutality of his London home and this new home in the countryside where kindness is so much part of daily life.
‘Blackouts’ are new to the countryside and remind us of the perilous situation facing all the villagers and the country itself too.
Tom is shocked by the mother’s meagre parcel of clothing for poor Will. He is even more shocked by the ‘belt’ included in the package to harm the child. ‘I ent ever hit a child.’ We know that Will is in a safe place and that despite Tom’s ‘gruff’ appearance, he is a kind, morally decent man. Unlike the cruel behaviour of the boy’s mother.
Sammy too, is a healing presence: ‘she won’t hurt you.’ Again, this contrasts with the secret cruelty of the London home governed by the child’s mentally disturbed parent.
The first glimpse of Zach at the Post Office foreshadows Will’s friendship with him. Zach is fascinating to Will and this sets up the importance of their healing, dynamic relationship.
‘His body was wiry and tanned.’ This description of Zach reveals he is a healthy young boy and has experienced a very different life to the ‘sickly’ Will. Importantly though, Zach likes Will and wants to be his friend very quickly which boosts the confidence and self-image of Will. Like Zach, Will adopts braces as a way of dressing. This shows a significant improvement from the thin, ‘sewn’ clothing of the callous mother.
Note how the purchase of real leather ‘boots’ for Will has an emotional effect of the deprived child. ‘A huge lump seemed to burn Willie’s chest.’ This reaction shows how powerfully affecting these practical acts of kindness are. Tom is behaving as a loving parent long before he is called ‘dad.’
The shop selling paints and brushes joins Tom’s past to the new present of Will. The shop has been his dead wife’s ‘favourite place.’ Will is as fascinated by the shop as he was with Zach and this indicates how important Art will prove in the novel. ‘He looked lovingly at the paintbrushes.’ Will has a secret skill and talent just like the dead wife, Rachel. This talent makes both Will and Tom come alive. Tom’s courage in going back to the shop that he has deliberately ignored for years since his wife’s death highlights his metamorphosis. Tom is gaining a new future and so is Will.
Tom reads to Will from the Bible making religion something kinder than he has ever known before. Learning is also linked to kindness and the nightly problems with bed-wetting are not punished by Tom. In fact he simply gets on with washing the sheets and the boy. Once again, the novel explores the importance of trust and compassion.
Zach.
Zach is remarkably chatty and warm. ‘I say, can I help?’ He helps to dig out the shelter in the garden. Again, this act is both a practical activity and yet has a metaphorical meaning linked to healing, It brings the two boys together in a positive and caring friendship.
Tom begins reading a Kipling ‘Just So’ story which ignites the imagination of Will who has never listened to fiction before and realised how wonderful imagination can be.
An Encounter.
Will has never run before and Sammy beats him. Takes us into the past and the name-calling of ‘Willie Weakling.’ This gives the story yet another challenge as we realise that Will can change his fitness and gain new skills. Transformation again! There are also other new children to befriend and learn about. The village is giving the hero opportunities for new experiences. Zach loves ‘acting’ and ‘wrote stories’ whilst Carrie ‘liked reading books.’ These activities are utterly new to poor deprived Will.
School.
Will’s illiteracy makes him feel’ utterly humiliated.’ This separates him from his friends and leads once again to the intervention of kind Tom. It also shows how important his drawing is as this boost his ability to write.
Birthday Boy.
Incredibly after only SIX days in the village, Tom holds a birthday party for the utterly overwhelmed Will who has never had his existence celebrated before. Let alone attended a party in his honour!
The Art equipment gifted Will is like magic for the boy. The significance of his name being on the pencils is huge: ‘William Beech.’ It shows he is recognised and important.
Friday.
Will wants to be in Mrs Hartridge’s class. This is a powerful motivation. Zach admires the artistic ability of his friend and this gives Will a tremendous boost to his sense of self. Friendship with others stops the bed-wetting. ‘They were dry.’
Carol Singing.
‘Bah Humbug!’
As Will bravely takes on the role of Scrooge he grows as a person, just like Scrooge himself who is also transformed in the story. Tom is also proud of him: ‘Thank you boy.’
New Beginnings.
Carrie’s abilities are recognised and so are William’s by Mrs Hartridge. Perhaps the teacher’s name is important, symbolically? HEART? The happiness is ruined by the announcement that Will’s mother wants him home. ‘She’s ill.’ This destroys the elation of the new class and shows how little ‘home’ is connected to the mother.
Home.
‘I’ll miss you.’ Will is clear in his affection for Tom.
The irony of the chapter’s title. ‘Home’ with mother is hell, not home.
The dismal journey and the failure of his mum to recognise him add to the tension and expectation of horror. She thinks he is begging.
‘Mum, it’s me.’
‘Thanks mum,’ and he smiled.’ It is very disturbing to her: ‘The smile frightened her.’ This reveals the misery of their relationship and her unhealthy mind. And is a dramatic contrast to the world of the village with Tom.
She doesn’t believe he can write. The rejection of everything he has achieved is truly callous and indicates how dangerous she is as a parent.
‘A baby…it’s got a tape on its mouth.’ HORRIFYING! Shows the insanity of the mother. And the danger that William is now in. Her appalling reaction to his friendship with Zach because his friend is Jewish demonstrates how insane she is and bigoted too, echoing the Nazi’ Party in the War of course.
‘Mister Tom’ he calls from his darkness and suffering and we see how it feels as if his real father hears the desperate plea of his lost and tormented child.
The Search.
Tom and Sammy go to London on a mission to save William. Their courage and tenacity in negotiating war-torn London make the ‘quest’ to save Will immerse and a sign of love. We are shocked when the ‘hole’ that Will is practically buried in is found. The ‘rank smell’ foreshadows the cruel death of the baby and the trauma of William as it tried to save the dying baby.
Rescue.
Here the dramatic rescue of the protagonist by Tom is inspired by the dead ‘Rachel.’ Thus kidnapping is salvation for Will and proves the depth of his adopted guardian’s love. Zach recognises the courage too. He has faith in Tom: ‘I knew you’d bring him back.’
Recovery.
Will is very ill, just like Rachel and her child. The nursing of Will heals Tom as he saves Will from death, and in this restoration of Will to life, the grief of the past is overcome.
Will smiles again and is philosophical too: ‘Everythin’ has its own time.’
Will is also able to talk about the dead baby, Trudy; Tom shares his opinion that Will’s mother is ‘ill’ in her mind. Mrs Hartridge’s feeding of her baby helps Will to acknowledge that he couldn’t have saved Trudy, as he didn’t have the means.
‘How far is it to the sea?’ Salmouth: A place of adventure and enduring happiness for them all. Zach, Tom and Will. A perfect time. An episode they will always share and be able to recollect with joy.
The Sea…
‘All his worries, painful memories…drifting away.’ The holiday is a metaphor for relief and release from the burden of suffering and the past.
Will gains ‘hundreds of freckles’ which he has never experienced before. A sign of his fresh circumstances and new life, noticed by his best friend, Zach. And he learns to ‘float’ in the sea which again is a sign of his new life.
Spooky Cott.
Will meets Geoffrey crippled by war and has a mentor for his art. First major change of the chapter. Then the authorities arrive to rehome will only to find that he is so unrecognisably healed in his new life that this psychiatrist lets him stay and thus Tom can be his father. ‘Muscles.’ ‘Bleached hair.’ Not ‘weedy’ any more!
Back to School.
Shattering revelation of Zach’s death. ‘he collapsed into unconsciousness.’ Will‘s world is again under threat and he will need his other allies to return to health. Lost one of the most important anchors in his life.
Grieving.
Carrie, too, is devasted. Zach had stooped her feeling ‘an odd fish.’ So the two friends are united in missing their charismatic, funny, supportive friend.
He shares time with Geoffrey who has lost his friend in the war. Art, music and memory help Will to grieve. Apologises to his ‘dad’ for worrying him about his staying out.
‘He called me dad.’ Healing works all ways in this novel.
Uses cycling as therapy: ‘he was inside him and very much alive. ‘
Postcript.
Wonderful ending: ‘Dad. …I’m growing!’ Gives a sense of completion and symmetry. Cyclical. He is growing and has grown in so many ways. He has a loving parent whom he can care for and he has a home and community where he belongs.
