Did Tommy develop real feelings for Carrie?
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americanadian25 — 10 years ago(February 27, 2016 01:42 AM)
In the book he did, in the movie its left vague, but there are some hints that maybe he was. I think he liked Carrie as a person, and as he was spending time with her, he started to develop some feelings. I mean, not full on love but something was there. Plus, he was genuinely pissed off when the bucket of blood was dropped on Carrie.
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godfather4377 — 9 years ago(February 04, 2017 01:35 PM)
Nope, he only felt guilty at first and obviously was doing it for Sue too. I don't think Tommy ever disliked Carrie. Did he think she was a little weird? Yes It was hard not to make those first impressions about Carrie. We all thought Carrie was a bit weird too. Because she was weird.
Sure, we knew why she was this way where Tommy didn't. But, she never justified being picked on the way she did. And I don't think Tommy was ever the type to want to do that to her, because she was different.
And he did laugh at first about going to the prom with her. Because it probably caught him so off-guard and knew his friends would laugh about this. I think Tommy did care about his "image" at first. After all, he was popular, and it's only human nature to enjoy being "liked". That doesn't make him a bad guy, especially at his age, just human nature to want to fit in.
But he never really fights going to the prom with her. A little at first, I guess, but he never seems completely disinterested in the idea. I think he sees Sue's point and is willing to do it to help Carrie. So, Tommy clearly was a good guy from the start.
He even was impressed the way she stuck up for his poem (he didn't really write we later found out) in class. When the teacher mocks Carrie over it, he mutters "you suck" to himself. He meant the teacher not Carrie. Everyone else laughs with the teacher, but notice Tommy doesn't laugh. Tommy didn't write the poem either, so it's not like he should care.
He was fascinated with what she said and it got his interest. There was some interest/curiosity from Tommy regarding Carrie from the start.
So, Tommy saw Carrie different than everyone else, even before Sue. He never carried any desire to make fun of Carrie at all.
But, Tommy is popular, Carrie isn't, so at that time in the movie he was probably still too concern about his image to ever make it known that he didn't think she seemed that bad. A little socially awkward and odd, but there seemed to be some attraction from Tommy even then.
I think Tommy truly started liking her at the prom though. Once they go inside and start talking, his demeanor changes. He goes from feeling a little bad for her to truly being interested in her.
He calls her beautiful, and he wasn't just saying that. And he kissed her and he meant it too. There's no way Sue asked that. You think Sue would suggest her boyfriend to kiss another girl? The thought never entered her mind. She never thought Tommy would truly fall for Carrie.
Sue felt guilty and wanted Carrie to fit in. But that's where it ended. Tommy got caught up in the moment and meant that kiss.
So yes, he was developing real feelings for her. I don't think we'll ever know if he'd have been with her. But Tommy realized she was innocent, sweet, attractive, and genuinely enjoyed her company. He no longer cared what anyone thought about it too. And he wanted to keep seeing her that night. He made that known.
So one has to assume he was falling for her, and it's possible he was interested in continuing a relationship with her.
I never read the book, but we don't know the extent of his relationship with Sue in the movie. Was he in love with Sue? Was she with him? There's nothing definitive to suggest that. We just knew they were together. They seemed to have a good relationship, but we don't know for sure how close/serious they were.