Maturing Throughout Life, No Matter the Circumstances Eppie Lederer, also known as Ann Landers, once said, “Maturity: Be able to stick with a job until it is finished. Be able to bear an injustice without having to get even. Be able to carry money without spending it. Do your duty without being supervised.” During their teen years, people mature due to a variety of circumstances. For example, these situations might be at a time of great peril, or a time of great anguish or grief. In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer shows immense signs of maturity in memorable parts of his life. One of the themes that Mark Twain explores in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is that people mature through impacting life experiences. Three examples …show more content…
Huckleberry Finn doesn’t like his new life with the Widow Douglas because of the new way of life he is forced to live. He has to wear new clothes, go to church and school, and eat with a spoon and a fork. Tired of this new way, Huck runs away and tries to become the free boy he once used to be. Tom finally finds Huck, and starts talking to him about why he wants to run away. As Huck talks about becoming a robber by running away and going rogue. Tom takes this opportunity to make his own gang, and can’t let Huck, “into the gang if you ain’t respectable, you know” (Twain,180). Tom Sawyer is trying to persuade Huckleberry Finn by prohibiting him to join his gang if he is not civilized. Huck, reluctantly, decides to go back to the widow’s house. Tom, at this moment, is showing an immense sign of maturity by thinking of Huck’s future. If the younger Tom was to be in the same position, he wouldn’t even consider persuading Huck to join his gang, but simply leave him be. Mark Twain is showing that Tom Sawyer is thinking about his good friend Huck and is worried for his bad future. Mark Twain is also showing us that a person can mature due to a