Dreams

Dreams or aspirations are at the heart of Little Wishes. Both Elizabeth and Tom are determined to make their dreams come true. Elizabeth has dreams of being a painter while Tom dreams of escaping poverty.

First, the discussion of dreams brings Tom and Elizabeth closer. When Elizabeth tells Tom that her father often dismisses her passion for painting as an idle hobby, Tom is quick to defend Elizabeth’s right to her dream. He says, "There's nothing silly about what makes you happy" (48). Thus, Tom manages to comfort Elizabeth while also reinforcing her self-esteem. The effect of Tom’s encouragement lasts well into old age for Elizabeth. The narrator says, "His presence in her life had brought such freedom, allowed her to consider what she wanted, and who she was. Before Tom she had never contemplated how the dreams that burned inside her might come true...