Tommy

Outer characterization

Tommy is one of the central characters in Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Never Let Me Go. His full name is Tommy D (Chapter 21, 22%). He appears to be the same age as Kathy and Ruth. 

While he was at Hailsham, Tommy was good at playing football (Chapter 1, 51%), and he had a favorite polo shirt he got from one of the Sales. After leaving Hailsham, he starts making miniature animals. 

Tommy was not very good as a carer – he considers that he was “lousy” (Chapter 19, 50%) and did not even learn to drive, so he could not do the job properly. Tommy survives his first three donations and then undergoes his fourth.

Inner characterization

Tommy is usually passive and rarely takes initiative

One of the reasons why Tommy is considered an outsider at Hailsham is because he does not seem to try hard enough and is seen as “a layabout” (Chapter 1, 78%). Tommy’s lack of interest at Hailsham is a source of frustration for the other students.

Tommy’s passivity is ...