When the novel starts, Tom is appointed in and often the arranger of childhood tricks and make-believe games. As the novel goes on, these originally consequence-free childlike games take on more and more seriousness. Tom leads himself, Joe Harper, Huck, and, in the cave, Becky Thatcher into more and more hazardous situations. He also finds himself in quandaries where he must put his anxiety for others above his anxiety for himself, such as when he takes Becky’s sentence and when he testifies at Injun Joe’s trial. As Tom starts taking the initiative to assist others instead of himself, he reveals his increasing adulthood, competence, and moral honesty.
Whether or not a solitary course of expansion characterizes Tom’s escapades, a single temperament trait – Tom’s indefatigable energy and thirst for escapade – propels the novel from chapter to chapter. noncompliant though he may be, Tom ends up as St. Petersburg’s hero. As the town rumors say, “Tom would be President, yet, if he escaped hanging.”
The themes of the novel, which are also the key purposes of writing the novel are Moral and social maturation; the insincerity of society; freedom by the means of social exclusion; fallacy in an uncertain world.
Actually, Tom Sawyer is a sly, playful boy. He seems to be a boaster and likes to show his power over other boys. He is about twelve years old as guessed from hints in Twain’s works. Tom is presumed to represent the untroubled and magnificent world of boyhood in the early-mid 1800s. His best friends are Joe Harper and Huckleberry Finn. In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom’s obsession with Rebecca (alias Becky) Thatcher is obvious. He has a half-brother, Sid, a cousin, Mary, and his aunt is known as Aunt Polly, all with whom he lives. Tom is Aunt Polly’s dead sister’s son. It is unidentified how Tom’s mother died.
Among the adventures, Tom gets himself into are going buccaneering with Huck Finn And Joe Harper. He also staggers upon Injun Joe’s crime in which Widow Douglass is almost murdered, and where thousands of gold rounds were entailed. He also gets caught with Becky Thacher, his “fiancée,” in a cavern. After which, Injun Joe dies, and Huck gets taken by the widow.
The central conflict is when Tom and Huck distinguish their biggest resist to be between themselves and Injun Joe, whose gold they want and whom they suggest is out to kill them. disagreement also exists between Tom and his inventive world and the anticipations and rules of the adult community.
The cover reveals all the romance of Tom’s childhood. Forest near Mississippi, small sailboat, and the sunset. It provides a clear understanding of the image of a happy childhood. All the illustrations are made in order to make the young reader more interested in the plot, as pictures only encourage imagination and give a basis for company outdoor games.
References
Twain, Mark (1986) “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” Penguin Classics publisher.