Karakteristik af Tommy Grimes i 'The Death of Tommy Grimes'

Characterization of the main character of “The Death of Tommy Grimes”

The main character of the short story “The Death of Tommy Grimes” by R.J. Meaddough III from 1962 is a young boy of 12 years old with dark-blond hair, who continuously seeks his father’s acceptance (Tom Grimes).

In the beginning of the story it goes without mentioning that Tommy wants to achieve the acceptance of his father, and finally being called a real man. While in the end Tommy does attain acknowledgement from his father and the men and the pub. It should not go without mentioning, it was not an easy journey for Tommy, both mentally and physically.

Starting from a young age, Tommy Grimes never liked to kill, as Tommy’s father mentions in the text “You never did like to kill nothing did you, boy? Even when you was small.” (p. 8, l. 21). But the pressure coming from the idea of wanting to be like his father, forces him to hunt, which he would like to avoid. “Slowly, clumsily, with three blades of grass waving like pennants ahead of him, a porcupine strolled into view, made his way through the sunlight and vanished into the grass. Tommy laughed, out loud almost, he could hardly keep from blowing up, he was so relieved, so happy.” (p. 10, l. 21-24). Tommy feels the sense of relieve when he does not have to kill.