Tom & Jerry’s Pyhcological Profiles

I made a survey before doing this post. I asked 20 people whether favored Tom or Jerry when they were a kid. And the results came that 18 out of 20 the people  I asked favored Jerry over Tom.

I have this theory. People favoring Jerry are not necessary like him. Quite the contrary, at many days, we might feel more like Tom. We identify with Tom as a matter of fact. And this is why we like Jerry more. We favor Jerry more because we would want to be like him.

Let us take the physiological profile of Tom first. Tom was described by some as pathetic. But Tom is always trying you know? He never gives up. Even if he was never meant to get Jerry. He keeps trying. Even if he makes a joke out of himself in front of millions of children, he keeps trying. He uses everything he can to get what he wants.  And at many times, it seems like he actually gets what he wants. But isn’t it kinda stupid to reach out for something you are almost certain you wont get? Even if you want it so bad? Why stay fixated on stuff that isn’t yours?  We have the impression that Tom stupid not because he fails every time. It is because he one way or another is always after the same thing. Trying, more or less after the same thing.  We have the impression that Tom MUST forget about Jerry. Because time after time, it has been proved that Jerry is so out of his reach. Tom must move on with his life, sufficing with milk. But then there is always this uncertainty factor that keeps him going. He thinks that it is his right to seek whatever he wants based on the sole notion that it is in front of him. Even if the chances are slim. There are still chances. Even if Jerry outsmarts him, there is still hope. Even if it makes everybody laughs at him. It takes strength you know, to pursue “mice” everybody thinks you can’t have. Yes. It takes strength, courage and perseverance. Sounds familiar?

Now to Jerry. Jerry is onehellofa mouse. He is small but resourceful. He is not intimidated by Tom although Tom outsize him. His runs-for-his-life with Tom always to seem such a game for him. Tom could have made Jerry’s life miserable. A constant cause of pain. But it seems that Jerry had learned that the trick lies in not taking Tom seriously. It never seemed to us that it is Jerry’s own life he wants to save. It always seemed that Jerry “had fun” beating Tom up. Jerry could have played victim and let us sympathize with him, but it is his prey that has our sympathy.Jerry smiles more. Jerry is more relaxed.  Jerry can always make circumstances work out for him and comes out alive at the end. It may seem that Jerry is smarter than Tom. But I personally believe that it has little to with smartness and wit than with attitude and style. He has an eye for opportunities. If you watched closely,Jerry isn’t luckier than Tom. Jerry just makes his own luck. He wins every time because he thinks he can win. It is interesting that we think its “cute” when in fact he is a snob. Jerry thinks he is better than Tom. He deserves more. And it has nothing to do with size and the fact that he seemingly is a small and unwelcome mouse after all. Jerry gets even with Tom. He is not very forgiving. How could he be when its his own life that Tom is after? Jerry makes sure that Tom understands that he is definitely out of his league.  We like Jerry because he always wins. But we never know, if Jerry tried the bitter taste of losing over and over again, what would he be like. And if you noticed, Jerry doesn’t always play it fair. He rarely, if ever, tries to win Tom to his side. Jerry is selfish and narcissitic. But he uses his cuteness to win us all to his side. Sounds familiar?

Now next coming up: Road runner and Coyote