Tom Brennan

Through personal experiences, people are able to learn, grow or change as an individual. When an individual is faced with obstacles in their life, the most important thing is how they choose to respond. If they are able to face the obstacle and overcome it, then they will reap the rewards. Both the novel ‘The story of Tom Brennan’ by J.C. Burke and the film ‘Smile’ by Jeffrey Kramer present how mentors in people’s life will ultimately help them face the obstacles of moving into the world whilst also extending their personal freedom.
A barrier for Tom is judgement as he is frightened of how he and his family will be treated in Coghill if their secret is revealed. One discovers due to the accident, that the family was faced with much discrimination and felt the anger of their small community, Mumbilli which was once a place of comfort where Tom and his siblings grew up. The protagonist is assuming that Coghill will be the same. People will know, judge and treat them differently. A quote expresses Tom’s greatest fears, “I pushed past him...I needed my energy and more than that I needed my guard. I was about to come face to face with people who possibly knew more about me than I’d ever know about them. That was the thing that terrified me... Did they know about us? And if they did, how would it be any different here?” Like Tom, Lin is also afraid.
An obstacle for Lin is judgement as she feels she won’t be accepted. She was born with a facial deformity and has hid from the world ever since, feeling she could not experience the world properly unless she was able to get surgery. A symbol of Lin hiding away from the world is the Shawl and hat she wears and refuses to leave the house without. Back to Tom, the main change that helps him enter the ‘broader world’ is a more painful one. Although Tom is appalled when he learns his sister, Kylie has revealed their secret; he is ultimately in many ways released. Tom’s friends, Rory and Jimmy explain that Kylie has given a