In the immediate aftermath of his birth, Oskar overhears Alfred and Agnes discussing his future. Alfred believes that his newborn son will grow up to be a grocer, just like him. Oskar is horrified. He considers climbing back into his mother's womb and reversing the circumstances of his birth until he overhears Agnes promising to buy him a tin drum on his third birthday. For the young boy who has stopped growing at three years old and who is in possession of a fully-developed consciousness, the drum is an important tool. It is not only a symbol of an optimistic future and a life worth living, but one of the only ways in which Oskar can communicate effectively with the world. The drums symbolize the inherent desire for communication amidst the alienation Oskar feels. He is alienated not because he does not want to forge relationships with other people, but because he is practically speaking a different language.

Oskar's ability to turn his drumming into a means of expression develops to the point where he can elicit an emotional reaction through his playing. When working in places like the Onion Cellar or when he receives a recording contract and tours across the country, his audiences feel his emotions.