Relationship between Thomas Cole and his father Cyrus Cole

The family had and accident, in which Thomas’s mother died. Cyrus was drunken and drove the car, without thinking about the consequences. After this horrible accident his father let Thomas down, although Thomas was only four years old, because he felt very guilty. That’s the reason why, Thomas grew up by his aunt. When Thomas was 17 years old, his aunt told him that his father ran a gas station a few miles away from Brooklyn. After hearing about his father, Thomas began to search the gas station of his father. Thomas found his father and he sat in front of his gas station for hours to observe him. Cyrus thought that Thomas wanted to steal his money and so he told him, that there was no money in his cashbox. The two started a discussion, and Thomas asked Cyrus for a job. Cyrus got angry, because he had no money to hire a worker. He didn’t want Thomas to observe him any longer and devoted on his work, but Thomas went on staying in front of the gas station. A few hours later, Cyrus began to talk to Thomas again. They introduced each other, but Thomas didn’t tell his father his real name. Cyrus offered Thomas a little job, he had to tidy up a room above the gas station. Thomas accepted the job and worked very hard, until Cyrus told him to have a little brake. They sat down on a truck and Cyrus told Thomas the whole story about his prothesis. A few moments later, Cyrus’s wife came to take him home. Thomas stayed and went on with his work. He took with him an old TV-set as payment for his work and left the gas station. A few days later, Thomas came back. Suddenly Paul Benjamin and Auggie Wren arrived at the gas station and asked Thomas to tell his father the truth. Thomas didn’t want to tell his real name, but after doing it, Cyrus noticed that Thomas was his son. Cyrus got very angry, as he didn’t want to believe it. Cyrus beat Thomas till his wife intervened. After the argument they all sat together picnicking and saying no word.

(by Leonie Föbus, Karina Großestrangmann)

In base of the summary you can see that the relationship between Thomas and his father is a little bit complicated. It’s the broken relationship between a father and his son, who haven’t seen each other for twelve years.

Cyrus: Until knowing that Thomas is his son, Cyrus trusts him, therefore he tells him the story about his crippled arm. When he finds out that Thomas is his son he feels deceived. Moreover he doesn’t want to confess. It was a period of his life, which he had already completed in the past. The memories of his wife are so painful for him, that he doesn’t want connections to people, who remind him of his wife.

Thomas: Actually after the death of his mother, his father was no longer existing for Thomas as well, because his father had let him down. He hasn’t seen him for more than twelve years, but after being informed by his aunt, where his father works, Thomas is so curious that he wants to see him soonest. Caused by working together, Cyrus and Thomas get to know each other a little bit better. During the time Thomas works at the gas station, he conceals his real name from Cyrus. It seems, that Thomas wants to get to know his father better, because he always comes back to his gas station. However he is still afraid to tell his father the truth. After telling his father his real name, Thomas is a little bit frightened of Cyrus, because he gets very angry and beats him. Later on, as they all sit together picnicking, Thomas feels relieved.