Goodnight Mister Tom

Will’s bed-wetting symbolizes his residual fear and trauma as he adjusts to life with Tom and, therefore, a life without constant terror and abuse; The Impact of Trauma and Abuse is referred to in the symbolism of Will’s bed-wetting. Tom helps to create a sense of safety for Will and reduces his shame as much as possible by telling Will about Sammy not being toilet trained when he first got him as a puppy: “‘Mister Tom,’ whispered Willie, ‘ain’t you angry wiv me?’ ‘No,’ Tom grunted. ‘When I first had Sammy he peed all over the blimmin’ place. Takes time to settle into a new place and its ways’” (62-63). Tom helps Will to strip the bed every morning and uncomplainingly washes and refits his sheets, characterizing Tom as a patient and loving father figure. Furthermore, Tom’s nonchalance about the bed wetting normalizes the behavior and is one of many patient and kind gestures that help Will feel safe and trusting in his new environment.

An important turning point is signified when Will stops wetting the bed. Symbolically, this happens when almost all of Will’s injuries and sores, caused by his abusive mother, have healed: “Very gently he [Tom] cleaned a sore and put some ointment on it. It was the last one. This time next week, should be gone,’ he muttered” (144). Will’s mental scars are healing in conjunction with his healing body, and with an increased sense of confidence and safety, his bed-wetting habit stops.

After Will returns home to his mother, where he is subjected to the horrific abuse of being beaten and locked into the cupboards for weeks with his deceased sister, he once again habitually wets the bed, illustrating the symbolic connection between Will’s feelings of unsafety and his tendency to wet the bed. Once again, through Tom’s careful and loving rehabilitation, Will grows out of the habit.