Tomás Aguilar Character Analysis in The Shadow of the Wind

Tomás is Bea’s brother and Daniel’s best childhood friend, a large but timid boy whose inventive genius is stifled by his overbearing father. Tomás is a foil to Jorge, the wealthy friend in Carax’s narrative. Unlike Jorge, Tomás has great integrity; he never turns on Daniel and, despite his initial reluctance, helps him realize his dream of being with Bea.

Tomás Aguilar Character Timeline in The Shadow of the Wind

The timeline below shows where the character Tomás Aguilar appears in The Shadow of the Wind. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Fathers, Sons, and Masculinity Theme Icon

...tempted to share the secret of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books with his best friend, Tómas Aguilar . Tómas is a gifted classmate who spends his free time thinking up eccentric inventions.... (full context)

...Fermín, Daniel devotes himself to investigating Julian Carax and spending time with his old friend Tomás Aguilar. Although Tomás is thoughtful and gifted, he looks like a bully, and in fact... (full context)

Despite his gifts and good temper, Tomás’s narrow-minded father Mr. Aguilar believes he’s “fainthearted and mentally deficient.” He bullies Tomás and plans... (full context)

Daniel dislikes Tomás’s glamorous older sister, Bea, who looks likes a movie star and has a rich Falangist... (full context)

As teenagers, Daniel and Tomás are increasingly worried about being drafted. Fermín, who hates the government, decides they must think... (full context)

Possessive and Obsessive Love Theme Icon

...suggests that he’s projecting onto her all his animosity for her father. She adds that Tomás is more comfortable among Daniel’s family than his own. (full context)

...for him. Daniel notes that the family’s situation seems similar to that of his friend Tomás’s family. (full context)

...by, while Fermín lectures him that a man must take the lead in courtship. Instead, Tomás arrives. Ignorant of Daniel’s relationship with his sister, he confides that when Bea came home... (full context)

When they’re alone, Daniel tells Tomás that Bea was with him the night before. Tomás isn’t upset, but seems worried that... (full context)

...their day’s investigations. Fermín theorizes that Carax and Jorge were best friends, like Daniel and Tomás, until a problem arose—in the form of Penélope. Penélope’s letter suggests that when Carax left... (full context)

Bea promises to call Daniel soon and walks away without a goodbye. Daniel sees Tomás looking at him impassively from the window of their house. (full context)

...and is greeted by one of the maids. Bea is away at the doctor, and Tomás refuses to see him. Daniel sees him standing at the window, but Tomás doesn’t return... (full context)

A hostile Tomás answers the door and tells Daniel that Bea has left home, and no one knows... (full context)

...the hospital to find Mr. Sempere, Bea, and Fermín standing guard over him. Barceló, Clara, Tomás, Bernarda, and their neighbors arrive soon after. Mr. Sempere has brought Daniel’s fountain pen to... (full context)

...and have four children. Fermín is now the keeper of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Tomás is an engineer in Germany, and he and Daniel are friendly but distant. (full context)