See Me, Feel Me: An Exploration of the Who’s Tommy

Close your eyes, tune out all sounds, and imagine a world where every single sensation is processed as pure music. This fantasy is only a small fraction of the world of Tommy Walker, the titular character of The Who’s famed rock opera album, Tommy. Tommy follows the story of a boy who loses the ability to hear, see, and speak after witnessing a traumatic event, and how it affects the way he experiences the world around him, leading him to become a sensational pinball wizard. The album was adapted into a movie and later a musical, and in honor of the musical’s 30th anniversary. It’s once again hitting the Broadway stage. But who is Tommy, and what does his amazing journey symbolize?

The first step in understanding Tommy’s story is to truly attempt to understand the Pinball Wizard himself. Those who truly understand the character of Tommy Walker know that he is meant to exist as a blank canvas. Though he is nineteen by the time his senses return to him, he only really experienced the world in the four years before losing them in the first place. That is not to say someone in his former condition could not live a full and pleasant life, but Tommy in particular knows very little about the world around him, having spent those fifteen years compulsively staring into a mirror. In this lack of knowledge and experience, you would expect a misunderstanding or distrust of human nature, but this is not the case for Tommy.

In spite of his experiences– having been physically abused by his cousin and uncle– Tommy has an indescribable love for people. Not just those around him, but all people. When his senses are regained, he shows immense kindness to everyone he interacts with and shelters them with peace. Because of his former condition, Tommy is enlightened and acts with total indifference. In this way, he can be seen and interpreted as a Christ-like figure. This theme is especially prevalent in the 1975 film directed by Ken Russell. Alterations of the story and cinematic symbolism suggest this is the intended interpretation. Throughout the film, there are many symbols resembling the cross chosen to represent his character. Also in the film, many shots show him in poses similar to a crucifixion. Furthermore, Tommy’s father, Captain Walker, is shown to be part of the isolated world inside Tommy’s head as a guiding figure. Something similar also appears in the original album with Tommy describing a tall stranger with a flowing beard acting in the same role, rather than his father. In this allegory, this stranger and Captain Walker seem to be representatives of God. Though saying that Tommy’s character is meant to symbolize Jesus Christ may seem like a bold claim, it is very evident that this is the intended effect on the part of the filmmakers and songwriter.

Another possible interpretation of the character of Tommy Walker is that he represents the experience of being neurodiverse. Neurodivergent is a term used to describe those with neurological behaviors that deviate from what is considered “normal” for human beings. Examples of these behaviors include conditions such as disorders on the autism spectrum, ADHD, or learning disorders like dyslexia. Many neurodivergent people describe feelings of loneliness due to their condition, and Tommy is described as living a life of isolation. Similarly to a mental disability, Tommy’s physical disability causes a blockage between him and any relationships he might have formed otherwise. His lack of senses causes him to live in an entirely different world inside his mind, an experience similar to maladaptive daydreaming; a common symptom of neurodiversity. This behavior is common among those afflicted with ADHD or autism and causes the person to daydream so much they often get lost in their own mind. This behavior can result in a dissociation from the world, similar to Tommy being bound to the mirror. The mirror is described as being a salvation for him, the only thing he is able to see in his isolation is his reflection. Like maladaptive daydreaming, he finds comfort in his reflection and compulsively stands and stares at the mirror to the point where it worries his parents. This behavior culminates in Tommy’s freedom when his mother grows fed up and smashes the mirror. In regaining his senses, Tommy attempts to connect with people and finally reach his goal of normality.

Though there is strong evidence within the source material to support these possible interpretations, art is ultimately for the interpreter. It defeats the point of Tommy being characterized as a blank canvas to try and box him into an archetype. The ability to enjoy Tommy comes from the interpretation of the individual audience members finding some way to connect the story to their personal experiences. Tommy Walker is written to be whatever you make of him, and that’s the beauty of his character and his story.