Tom Sawyer Research Paper

A classic book stands through the test of time and is a good representation of the period in which it was written. When thinking of a classic piece of literature there are many things that come to mind. Old may be one of them. The age and antiquity of a book may be classic, but only the morals that can draw through many years can be determined as classic literature. What unites both old, modern and future classics is their ability to deal with larger themes, involving eternal truths. The overall themes of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer can be described as growing maturity throughout the book, social exclusion in the community, and the many acts of crime make this book an important part of classic literature. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

He spends most of the novel getting his friends into and out of trouble. His partner in crime is Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain creates a character who illustrates freedom. Huck is the son of the town drunk, which is seemingly an orphan. He sleeps and eats when he pleases, assuming he can find a morsel. No one requires him to attend school or church, bathe, or dress respectably. This leads him to a life of destruction and mischief. By the end of the book Tom becomes a much more mature young adult and we see many features that lead us to believe he is not the character that we were first introduced to. Sometimes Tom shows the acts of a smaller child, with his interest in make-believe and superstitions, but things like Tom’s romantic interest in Becky and his fascination with Huck’s smoking and drinking seem more the concerns of an adolescent. As the book goes on we see a lot of maturing happen to Tom and maturation seems to be a theme throughout the book. When we first are introduced to Tom he takes part in many childhood games. When he first catches sight of Mary he acts out in many immature ways. “He worshipped this new angel with furtive eye, till he saw that she had discovered him; then he pretended that he did not know she was present, and began to “show off” in all sorts of absurd boyish ways in order to win her admiration.” (20) Tom’s actions often show his