Part 1, Chapters 1, 2 and 3 Summary

This novel tells the story of a rambunctious young student at a traditional English all-boys school in the mid 1800s, and his transformation from a thoughtless, shallow youth into a thoughtful, selfless, and moral young man. The narrator is as much of a character as the student, his schoolmates, and their teachers, giving the clear impression that the story is as much a lecture on proper behavior and morality as it is a narrative.

These first three chapters describe Tom's life at home and in his community before he goes off to school, the beliefs in equality and opportunity instilled in him by his parents, and the friendships with those more vulnerable than him that shaped his attitude to other boys at school.

Chapter 1 - The Brown Family: The narrator speaks at length about his frustration at British people...