Tom and Jerry was quite the violent show wasn't it?
It really was! It seems people don't remember how violent cartoons from the 40's and 50's were.
I remember watching classic cartoons with violence when I was really young then moved on to blues clues. 
Was it Tom that always had the swollen thumb from getting hit by Jerry?
yes, Tom was the the cat. Jerry would seem to always be the aggressor, although if Tom were to have his way Jerry would be his next meal. Really conflicting stuff
But Tom had a pretty nice life with a home and plenty of food. He just really wanted to catch that mouse.
which was his job as a cat. The mouse is an uninvited pest. We were forced to sympathize with mouse thief. I wonder why?
Probably because he should have been the underdog, since he was smaller and basically homeless. He was surprising strong though, and seemed to be a lot smarter than Tom.