Part 3 centers around Thomas’s creative breakthrough, which began in his dream and has carried over into his life. By not only writing a song but sharing it with others, Thomas shows that he has overcome his feelings of shame and reluctance about his creativity. When he sees his guitar and lyrics lying out, he feels acceptance: 

He expects some great deposit of embarrassment will fall on him, that shame will urge him to remove what’s there—spill tea all over that condemning scrap of paper, throw his blanket on the instrument before [his mother] notices—but it’s too late for that […] There’s no reason to be sorry (127-28). 

That Thomas’s newfound boldness surprises even him shows how deeply he had repressed the musical passion that sets him apart so starkly from his only living family members: Ma and Pop. 

His confrontation with his mother on this topic adds further depth to the theme of The Relationship Between Family, Identity, and Aspiration. Ma’s angry comments about Thomas’s music show her fear and insecurity regarding her son’s intellect. She says snidely, “I’m not as clever as you, am I? I don’t understand the hidden meanings like you do, we all know that. But I can read, no problem with my eyes, and that says bury me. That’s what it says” (128). Ma’s discomfort with Thomas’s self-expression reveals her deep fear that his gifts will prompt him to abandon her. In reassuring his mother, Thomas shows his love and respect for her, as well as his dedication to providing for her. However, he affirms that he intends to do the latter by pursuing his creative passion. This will allow him to develop his own identity separate from hers without dishonoring his roots, resolving the conflict that has driven much of the novel.

By finally speaking frankly with his mother, Thomas also makes great progress on his journey of self-understanding. Having learned that Patrick Weir was not really a musician, Thomas realizes that he was inventing an identity for his father to explain his own gifts. His mother tells him, “[H]e was never fussed with music, son. I never even heard him whistle, let alone pick up an instrument and sing. That’s all your doing” (131). This conversation helps Thomas understand that his musical gift, though not necessarily a family trait, is a feature of his own personality that he does not need to hide.

Another unexpected revelation concerns Mr. Acheson’s false claims about his film. Thomas’s continued respect for Mr. Acheson despite what he learns shows his deep appreciation for the former director’s short-lived role in his life. That Mr. Acheson quite literally saved Thomas’s life points to his even more significant symbolic role in changing it: By interrupting Thomas’s routine and prompting him to see the world differently, Acheson helped to put him on the right path, helping him prioritize his real interests. Thomas tells Mildred, “I’ve only known him for a day, that’s true, but I feel better for it. I’m not sure I was awake before he came along” (144). This admission shows how Mr. Acheson’s brief presence has inspired Thomas, implying that even though Mr. Acheson’s creative endeavors will not continue, Thomas is still holding on to his own dreams.

The joy Thomas finds in his music does not resolve his money problems, however. Continued financial pressure, now increased as Thomas expects Mr. Acheson’s check to bounce, adds realism to the theme of Creative Longing in the Face of Economic Hardship. His mother reminds him of his responsibility as the sole earner in their household, and the necessity of his shrimp fishing, telling him, “It’s nice you’ve got a hobby, but it won’t put bread and butter in our bellies, will it, and that’s what you’re needed for” (131). Nevertheless, Thomas’s passion for music lifts his spirits, making his life feel more joyful and full of possibility. The morning he wakes up with his first song written, he reflects that “[T]he outer world seems fuller and less difficult to reach. He’s added something to it now—it mightn’t be much cop or good enough to get the admiration of the crowd down at the Fisher’s Rest, but he can say he made it on his own, and there’ll be more to come” (132). This buoyant passage suggests that while Thomas will continue to face financial hardship, he has a renewed purpose and sense of direction that make that hardship easier to bear.