Personal Library -- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Tom is a smart and active boy who embodies wisdom, cunning, justice, bravery, and many other qualities. He is a collection of multiple roles—astute, compassionate, and resentful of the real world. He is determined to break free from constraints and become a roving knight errant, living a life of chivalry. The novel portrays Tom Sawyer as an idealistic and ambitious character, yet also one filled with (troubles). He is vivid and lifelike, leaving a deep impression on readers. To Aunt Polly, he is a mischievous child, but she is softened by his "cunning" time and again. In Sunday school, he uses the money he earned from selling his whitewashing privilege to exchange for a new Bible. However, when a lady quizzes him on its contents, he answers incoherently, leaving everyone stunned. When his relationship with Becky hits a "crisis," "Then, Tom strode out of the classroom, climbed over a small hill, and went far away—deciding he wouldn't go back to school that day." The scene where he gives up his whitewashing rights fully demonstrates Tom's outstanding leadership skills. The boy, unwillingly, becomes Tom's "prisoner," not only whitewashing the walls for him but even sacrificing his own apples to do so. When the other children eagerly want to whitewash the walls, Tom secretly rejoices. After a fierce internal struggle, Tom bravely testifies, saving Muff Potter, which again highlights his noble character of refusing to submit to injustice and upholding righteousness.
Mark Twain does not merely sketch the characters of the children led by Tom but delves deeper into their psychology, reflecting the natural development of children. When Huck asks Tom to "join the gang" as a robber, Tom says, "Generally speaking, robbers are more refined than pirates. In many countries, robbers are the upper crust of the upper crust—like dukes and such." Though these opinions come from a child, they genuinely reflect the psychological impressions society imposes on children. They go far beyond what a child could normally contemplate. In this sense, though the novel is written for children, it is also a high-quality children's book for everyone. As Mark Twain wrote in the preface, "I wrote this novel mainly to entertain children, but I hope adults don’t just put it aside because it’s a children’s book." Reading this novel allows "adults to recall their own younger selves—their emotions, thoughts, words, and some unbelievable actions."