Tom Cable Character Analysis in The Goldfinch

Tom attends Theo’s school in New York. When the novel opens, the two are friends, and Tom has been leading Theo astray; the two of them have been walking into people’s houses into the Hamptons and committing minor theft. Thanks to Tom, Theo gets suspended from school. After Audrey dies, Tom is cold and distant with Theo. Later, when they are adults, Tom keeps dating Kitsey even after she gets engaged to Theo.

Tom Cable Character Timeline in The Goldfinch

The timeline below shows where the character Tom Cable appears in The Goldfinch. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...been suspended, but he thinks it’s because a teacher saw him standing with his friend, Tom Cable, while Tom smoked a cigarette on school property. Audrey hates smoking because her parents... (full context)

...lose his scholarship. He is worried that his teacher has found out that he and Tom have been wandering into people’s empty vacation homes in the Hamptons, taking beer, Xbox games,... (full context)

...was at school, Audrey was alive. Some people offer condolences, whereas others, including Theo’s friend Tom, avoid him. When Theo approaches him, Tom offers a half-hearted “sorry,” before teasing him for... (full context)

However, after this exchange, Tom continues to ignore Theo. Theo isn’t upset, but furious, and he fantasizes about beating up... (full context)

As Theo is leaving, Platt mentions that he’s seen Tom Cable a lot recently, who Platt recalls was a “pothead” and “thief” as a teenager.... (full context)

...downtown. However, just as he tries calling again, he sees Kitsey “arm in arm” with Tom Cable. They are carrying a bag from the wine shop where she and Theo often... (full context)

...in Manhattan.” Theo quickly tells her to drop the act, saying he saw her with Tom in the street. Kitsey denies there’s anything going on between them, insisting that Tom is... (full context)

Kitsey says that Tom got bad news himself the night before, and turned up unexpectedly just before “Girl’s night.”... (full context)

...place she usually keeps it on the side of the table. He imagines her and Tom talking, and realizes that he can actually see how they are well matched. He imagines... (full context)

Unexpectedly, Platt announces that Tom doesn’t love Kitsey, and that Theo coming into her life was the best thing that... (full context)