Mr. Tomelty Character Analysis in Old God’s Time

Mr. Tomelty is Tom’s landlord and the wealthy owner of various properties around Dalkey. Despite his wealth, he normally dresses in ragged clothes and spends most of his time gardening in solitude. At one point, Tom runs into Mr. Tomelty in town, where the landlord is well-dressed and outgoing, and the two return to Mr. Tomelty’s ornate flat where Tom meets Mr. Tomelty’s wife Eliza. However, when Tom later asks Mr. Tomelty about Mrs. Tomelty, Mr. Tomelty tells him that he was widowed many years ago.

Mr. Tomelty Character Timeline in Old God’s Time

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Tomelty appears in Old God’s Time. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...in the seaside town of Dalkey, Ireland. He recently moved into a flat rented from Mr. Tomelty , a wealthy landlord who spends much of his time gardening. Tom enjoys the quiet... (full context)

Personal Trauma vs. Collective Trauma Theme Icon

...begins to bang on the Formica kitchen table, but stops himself out of respect for Mr. Tomelty ’s property. As he stands over the table, the doorbell rings. (full context)

...items that Tom sleeps with, such as his old case notes, which Tom feels certain Mr. Tomelty would throw out after his death despite the stories they hold. The narrator states that,... (full context)

...stroller, which causes him to reminisce about June’s pregnancies. He passes some nice restaurants, with Mr. Tomelty exiting one of them in a fine suit. He pulls Tom aside to talk, confessing... (full context)

Close to Queenstown Castle, Mr. Tomelty pulls up in his car and offers Tom a ride, which Tom accepts out of... (full context)

Tom dashes up to the flat of the boy’s mother—the same woman Mr. Tomelty believes to be a sex worker. She opens the door quickly, and Tom explains the... (full context)

...from Mr. Prendergast’s market, although they also remind him of the Brother. He also watches Mr. Tomelty work on his garden, having once again donned his tattered clothes. Tom hasn’t spoken to... (full context)

...dark time. He is grateful for the beauty that surrounds him in things such as Mr. Tomelty ’s garden and the sea. (full context)

Tom looks down from his wicker chair to where Mr. Tomelty is gardening. He notes that the landlord looks older, but he chalks it up to... (full context)

...his involvement in the case. He enjoys the summer, especially reveling in the beauty of Mr. Tomelty ’s garden. His greatest source of enjoyment, however, is swimming. Using the swim trunks he... (full context)