Mark Twain - Part II

Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer is a complex story of relationships that Tom has with his close friends, girl classmates, and adults. The commonality among these groups is the compassion that Tom tries to mask in an attempt to preserve his brash and selfish image. However, Tom lets his maturity peek through on several occasions throughout the story.
When Tom first sees Becky Thatcher, she tosses a pansy over the fence just before entering her house. Tom placed the pansy inside his jacket, next to his heart, and waited outside for her to return until after nightfall (24).
Tom didn’t let the rules of social class interfere with his relationship with Huckleberry Finn. Huck Finn was a homeless, uneducated boy that enjoyed mischief just as much, if not more, than Tom. Tom never passed up a chance to play or at least talk to Huck, which was against Aunt Polly’s rules (45). At no time during the story does Tom belittle Huck for his misfortune.
After Tom, Joe, and Huck become pirates on Jackson Island, they realize that the townspeople thing they’ve drowned after witnessing the ferry boat searching the waters. Tom sneaks back home and covertly listens to Aunt Polly, Mrs. Harper, and Mary talk about missing the boys. Tom begins to feel guilty, and while Aunt Polly sleeps, he slips into her room and kisses her. He intended to leave a note allaying her fears, but impulsively kept the sycamore bark telling her that they were alive (102).
Another hint of Tom’s maturity happened when Becky ripped the page in the schoolmaster’s anatomy book. Tom, knowing that Becky would not be able to deceive the schoolmaster, took blame for the damage and unselfishly received the whipping on Becky’s behalf (131).
Tom’s conscience regarding the murder of Dr. Robinson finally catches up to him and he feels obligated to break the oath of silence with Huck and reveal the real murderer. Tom, knowing that this came forward because it wasn’t morally right to allow Muff Potter to die believing that he had committed murder in a drunken stupor (146).
Tom’s coddling of Becky while they were lost in the tunnel showed chivalry not usually displayed by Tom. Even the way he divided the “wedding” cake showed true affection and unselfishness (191).
After discovering that Judge Thatcher sealed the cave, Tom immediately alerted him that Injun Joe was inside the cave. Despite his fear of Injun Joe, Tom did not want anyone to die in the cave (197).
Tom Sawyer documents interactions in vivid imagery, allowing the reader to experience Tom’s coming-of-age.

Tom Sawyer

This is my first blog in a succession of comments about Mark Twain's works. The last time I read this piece was before most of you were born. It has brought back nostalgic times growing up when neighborhoods were still safe and before the invention of cell phones, internet, and video games.

Tom's mischief is a way to conceal his true identity - a smart, compassionate boy that becomes preoccupied with romanticism. Not only does he expose his true self around Becky, but his dreams of pirates, Robin Hood, and Indians permit his romantic persona to shine.

His conscience shows when remembering the murder that he witnessed, as well as when he visits Aunt Polly when she is asleep.

His stories are not only amusing, but thought-provoking.