Prince of Tides

In Central Park, Tom meets Bernard Woodruff, Susan’s tall and sullen teenage son. At first, Bernard is hostile toward Tom, while Tom plays the tough football coach with him, sharply critiquing Bernard to the extent he brings the boy to tears. However, Tom’s fierce criticism of Bernard’s privilege breaks through his tough exterior. Bernard begins to refer to Tom as “Coach Wingo” (248), a moniker Tom hasn’t been called in a long while and requests Tom to help him with football. It is evident to Tom that Bernard’s father looks down upon his love of sports; thus, Tom’s derision of the violin rallies Bernard to his side. Tom promises Bernard that he will coach him, even though the training will be arduous and unforgiving.

Tom recounts to Susan all the ways he finds Lila simultaneously triggering and fascinating. Lila has always been highly aspirational, wanting to better herself, a “work in progress” (249). To present a desirable social front, Lila constantly switches her demeanor and responses, a habit that unsettled Tom as a child. Her children, especially Tom, could not read her moods or please her, which turned her into a cipher for them. Tom recalls Luke telling him that Lila was so extraordinarily beautiful she was almost superhuman in her capabilities.