ContextMarkTwainwasbomSamuelLanghorneClemensinFlorida,Missouri,in1835,andgrewupinnearbyHannibal,asmallMississippiRivertown.HannibalwouldbecomethemodelforSt.Petersburg,thefictionalizedsettingofTwain，stwomostpopularnovels,TheAdventuresofTomSawyerandTheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn.TheyoungClemensgrewupinaprosperousfamily一hisfatherownedagrocerystoreaswellasanumberofslaves一buthewassentouttoworkattheageoftwelveafterhisfather'sdeath.Asayoungman,hetraveledfrequently,workingasaprinter'stypesetterandasasteamboatpilot.Inthislatterprofessionhegainedfamiliaritywiththeriverlifethatwouldfurnishmuchmaterialforhiswriting.Healsogainedhispenname,MarkTwain,whichisameasureofdepthinsteamboatnavigation.TwainenlistedintheConfederatemilitiain1861,earlyintheCivilWar,buthesoonlefttopursueacareerinwritingandjournalisminNevadaandSanFrancisco.Hisarticlesandstoriesbecameimmenselypopularinthedecadesthatfollowed.Onthestrengthofthisgrowingliterarycelebrityandfinancialsuccess,hemovedeastinthelate1860sandmarriedOliviaLangdon,thedaughterofaprominentElmira,NewYork,family.TwainandLangdonsettledinHartford,Connecticut;thereTwainwroteTheAdventuresofTomSawyer,whichhepublishedin1876.Twainproceededtowrite,amongotherthings,TheAdventuresofHucklebenyFinn(1884)andtwosequelstoTheAdventuresofTomSawyer.TomSawyerAbroad(1894)andTomSawyer,Detective(1896).Hediedin1910,oneofAmericansmostbelovedhumoristsandstorytellers.WhileTheAdventuresofTomSawyerretainssomeofthefragmented,episodicqualitiesofTwairfsearlier,shorterpieces,thenovelrepresents,ingeneral,asignificantliterarydepartureforTwain.Hetoneddownthelarge-scalesocialsatirethatcharacterizedmanyofhisearlierworks,choosinginsteadtodepictthesustaineddevelopmentofasingle,centralcharacter.TwainhadoriginallyintendedforthenoveltofollowTomintoadulthoodandconcludewithhisreturntoSt.Petersburgaftermanyyearsaway.Buthewasneverabletogethisherooutofboyhood,however,andthenovelendswithitsprotagoniststillpreparingtomakethetransitionintoadultlife.TwainbasedTheAdventuresofTomSawyerlargelyonhispersonalmemoriesofgrowingupinHannibalinthe1840s.Inhisprefacetothenovel,hestatesthat"[m]ostoftheadventuresrecordedinthisbookreallyoccurred^andthatthecharacterofTom
Sawyerhasabasisin"acombination•••ofthreeboyswhomIknew?9Indeed,nearlyeveryfigureinthenovelcomesfromtheyoungTwain'svillageexperience:AuntPollysharesmanycharacteristicswithTwain'smother;MaryisbasedonTwain'ssisterPamela;andSidresemblesTwain，syoungerbrother,Henry.HuckFinn,theWidowDouglas,andevenInjunJoealsohavereal-lifecounterparts,althoughtheactualInjunJoewasmoreofaharmlessdrunkthanamurderer.UnlikeTwain'slatermasterpiece,TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn,TheAdventuresofTomSawyerconcernsitselfprimarilywithpaintinganidyllicpictureofboyhoodlifealongtheMississippiRiver.ThoughTwainsatirizesadultconventionsthroughoutTheAdventuresofTomSawyer,heleavesuntouchedcertainlargerissuesthatTheAdventuresofHuckleberry^Finnexplorescritically.TheAdventuresofTomSawyerneverdealsdirectlywithslavery,forexample,and,whilethetown'sdislikeofInjunJoesuggestsakindofsmall-townxenophobia(fearofforeignersoroutsiders),InjunJoe，smurdersmorethanjustifythetown'ssuspicionofhim.Becauseitavoidsexplicitcriticismofracism,slavery,andxenophobia,thenovelhaslargelyescapedthecontroversyoverraceandlanguagethathassurroundedTheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinninthetwentiethandtwenty-firstcenturies.Tothisday,TheAdventuresofTomSawyerremainsperhapsthemostpopularandwidelyreadofallTwain^sworks.PlotOverviewANIMAGINATIVEANDMISCHIEVOUSBOYnamedTomSawyerliveswithhisAuntPollyandhishalf-brother,Sid,intheMississippiRivertownofSt.Petersburg,Missouri.AfterplayinghookyfromschoolonFridayanddirtyinghisclothesinafight,TomismadetowhitewashthefenceaspunishmentonSaturday.Atfirst,Tomisdisappointedbyhavingtoforfeithisdayoff-However,hesooncleverlypersuadeshisfriendstotradehimsmalltreasuresfortheprivilegeofdoinghiswork.HetradesthesetreasuresforticketsgivenoutinSundayschoolformemorizingBibleversesandusestheticketstoclaimaBibleasaprize.Helosesmuchofhisglory,however,when,inresponsetoaquestiontoshowoffhisknowledge,heincorrectlyanswersthatthefirsttwodiscipleswereDavidandGoliath.TomfallsinlovewithBeckyThatcher,anewgirlintown,andpersuadesherto
get"engaged^tohim.TheirromancecollapseswhenshelearnsthatTomhasbeen“engaged"before一toagirlnamedAmyLawrence.ShortlyafterbeingshunnedbyBecky,TomaccompaniesHuckleberryFinn,thesonofthetowndrunk,tothegraveyardatnighttotryouta“cure，'forwarts.Atthegraveyard,theywitnessthemurderofyoungDr.RobinsonbytheNative-American"half-breed"5InjunJoe.Scared,TomandHuckrunawayandswearabloodoathnottotellanyonewhattheyhaveseen.InjunJoeblameshiscompanion,MuffPotter,ahaplessdrunk,forthecrime.Potteriswrongfullyarrested,andTom'sanxietyandguiltbegintogrow.Tom,Huck,andTorrTsfriendJoeHarperrunawaytoanislandtobecomepirates.Whilefrolickingaroundandenjoyingtheirnewfoundfreedom,theboysbecomeawarethatthecommunityissoundingtheriverfortheirbodies.Tomsneaksbackhomeonenighttoobservethecommotion.Afterabriefmomentofremorseatthesufferingofhislovedones,Tomisstruckbytheideaofappearingathisfuneralandsurprisingeveryone.HepersuadesJoeandHucktodothesame.Theirreturnismetwithgreatrejoicing,andtheybecometheenvyandadmirationofalltheirfriends.Backinschool,TomgetshimselfbackinBecky，sfavorafterhenoblyacceptstheblameforabookthatshehasripped・SoonMuffPotter，strialbegins,andTom,overcomebyguilt,testifiesagainstInjunJoe.Potterisacquitted,butInjunJoefleesthecourtroomthroughawindow.Summerarrives,andTomandHuckgohuntingforburiedtreasureinahauntedhouse.Afterventuringupstairstheyhearanoisebelow.Peeringthroughholesinthefloor,theyseeInjunJoeenterthehousedisguisedasadeafandmuteSpaniard.Heandhiscompanion,anunkemptman,plantoburysomestolentreasureoftheirown.Fromtheirhidingspot,TomandHuckwrigglewithdelightattheprospectofdiggingitup.Byanamazingcoincidence,InjunJoeandhispartnerfindaburiedboxofgoldthemselves.WhentheyseeTomandHuck，stools,theybecomesuspiciousthatsomeoneissharingtheirhidingplaceandcarrythegoldoffinsteadofreburyingit.HuckbeginstoshadowInjunJoeeverynight,watchingforanopportunitytonabthegold.Meanwhile,TomgoesonapicnictoMcDougaPsCavewithBeckyandtheirclassmates.Thatsamenight,HuckseesInjunJoeandhispartnermakingoffwithabox.HefollowsandoverhearstheirplanstoattacktheWidowDouglas,akindresidentofSt.Petersburg.Byrunningtofetchhelp,Huckforestallstheviolenceandbecomesananonymoushero.
TomandBeckygetlostinthecave,andtheirabsenceisnotdiscovereduntilthefollowingmorning.Themenofthetownbegintosearchforthem,buttonoavail.TomandBeckyrunoutoffoodandcandlesandbegintoweaken.ThehorrorofthesituationincreaseswhenTom,lookingforawayoutofthecave,happensuponInjunJoe，whoisusingthecaveasahideout.Eventually,justasthesearchersaregivingup,Tomfindsawayout.Thetowncelebrates,andBecky^sfather,JudgeThatcher,locksupthecave.InjunJoe,trappedinside,starvestodeath.Aweeklater,TomtakesHucktothecaveandtheyfindtheboxofgold,theproceedsofwhichareinvestedforthem.TheWidowDouglasadoptsHuck,and,whenHuckattemptstoescapecivilizedlife,Tompromiseshimthatifhereturnstothewidow,hecanjoinTom'srobberband・Reluctantly,Huckagrees.CharacterListTomSawyer・Thenovefsprotagonist.Tomisamischievousboywithanactiveimaginationwhospendsmostofthenovelgettinghimself,andoftenhisfriends,intoandoutoftrouble.Despitehismischief,Tomhasagoodheartandastrongmoralconscience・Asthenovelprogresses,hebeginstotakemoreseriouslytheresponsibilitiesofhisroleasaleaderamonghisschoolfellows.AuntPolly・TonfsauntandguardiamAuntPollyisasimple,kindheartedwomanwhostrugglestobalanceherloveforhernephewwithherdutytodisciplinehim.ShegenerallyfailsinherattemptstokeepTomundercontrolbecause,althoughsheworriesaboutTorrfssafety,sheseemstofearconstraininghimtoomuch・Aboveall,AuntPollywantstobeappreciatedandloved.HuckleberryFinn-Thesonofthetowndrunk.Huckisajuvenileoutcastwhoisshunnedbyrespectablesocietyandadoredbythelocalboys,whoenvyhisfreedom.LikeTom,Huckishighlysuperstitious,andbothboysarealwaysreadyforanadventure.HuckgraduallyreplacesTorrTsfriendJoeHarperasTorressidekickinhisescapades.BeckyThatcher-JudgeThatcher^spretty,yellow-haireddaughter.Fromalmosttheminuteshemovestotown,Beckyisthe"AdoredUnknown^whostirsTonVslivelyromanticsensibility・Naiveatfirst,BeckysoonmatchesTomasaromantic
strategist,andthetwogotogreatlengthstomakeeachotherjealous.JoeHarper-Tom，s“bosomfriend"andfrequentplaymate.Joeisatypicalbestfriend,aconventionTwainparodieswhenhereferstoJoeandTomas“twosoulswithbutasinglethought?9ThoughJoemostlymirrorsTom,hedivergesfromTom'sexamplewhenheisthefirstoftheboystosuccumbtohomesicknessonJackson'sIsland.Asthenovelprogresses,HuckbeginstoassumeJoe'splaceasTom'scompanion.Sid-Tom'shalf-brother.Sidisagoody-goodywhoenjoysgettingTomintotrouble・Heismean-spiritedbutpresentsasuperficialshowofmodelbehavior.HeisthustheoppositeofTom,whoiswarmheartedbutbehavesbadly.Mary-Tom'ssweet,almostsaintlycousin.MaryholdsasoftspotforTom.LikeSid,sheiswellbehaved,butunlikehim,sheactsoutofgenuineaffectionratherthanmalice.InjunJoe・Aviolent,villainousmanwhocommitsmurder,becomesarobber,andplanstomutilatetheWidowDouglas.InjunJoe'spredominantmotivationisrevenge.HalfNativeAmericanandhalfCaucasian,hehassufferedsocialexclusion,probablybecauseofhisrace・MuffPotter-AhaplessdrunkandfriendofInjunJoe.PotteriskindandgratefultowardTomandHuck,whobringhimpresentsafterheiswronglyjailedforDr.Robinson，smurder.Potter^snaivetrusteventuallypushesTom'sconsciencetothebreakingpoint,compellingTomtotellthetruthatPotter5strialaboutwhoactuallycommittedthemurder・Dr.Robinson・Arespectedlocalphysician.Dr>Robinsonshowshismoresordidsideonthenightofhismurder:hehiresInjunJoeandMuffPottertodigupHossWilliamsesgravebecausehewantstousethecorpseformedicalexperiments.Mr.Sprague-Theministerofthetownchurch.TheWidowDouglas-Akindhearted,piousresidentofSt.Petersburgwhomthechildrenrecognizeasafriend.TomknowsthattheWidowDouglaswillgivehimandBeckyicecreamandletthemsleepover.SheiskindtoHuckevenbeforeshelearnsthathesavedherlife.Mr.Jones-AWelshmanwholiveswithhissonsneartheWidowDouglas's
house・Mr.JonesrespondstoHuck^salarmonthenightthatInjunJoeintendstoattackthewidow,andhetakescareofHuckintheaftermath.JudgeThatcher-Becky'sfather,thecountyjudge.Alocalcelebrity,JudgeThatcherinspirestherespectofallthetownspeople・Hetakesresponsibilityforissuesaffectingthecommunityasawhole,suchasclosingthecaveforsafetyreasonsandtakingchargeoftheboys'treasuremoney.Jim-AuntPolly，syoungslave.AmyLawrence・Tom，sformerlove.TomabandonsAmywhenBeckyThatchercomestotown.BenRogers-OneofTom，sfriends,whomTompersuadestowhitewashAuntPolly'sfence.AlfredTemple-Awell-dressednewboyintown.LikeAmyLawrence,AlfredgetscaughtinthecrossfireofTomandBecky'slovegames,asBeckypretendstolikehiminordertomakeTomjealous.Mr.Walters-ThesomewhatridiculousSundayschoolsuperintendent.BecauseheaspirestopleaseJudgeThatcher,Mr.WaltersrewardsTomwithaBible,eventhoughheknowsthatTomhasn'tearnedit.Mr.Dobbins-Theschoolmaster.Mr.Dobbinsseemsaslightlysadcharacter:hisambitiontobeamedicaldoctorhasbeenthwartedandhehasbecomeaheavydrinkerandthebuttofschoolboypranks.AnalysisofMajorCharactersTomSawyerWhenthenovelbegins,TomisamischievouschildwhoenviesHuckFinn'slazylifestyleandfreedom.AsTom，sadventuresproceed,however,criticalmomentsshowTommovingawayfromhischildhoodconcernsandmakingmature,responsibledecisions.ThesemomentsincludeTom'stestimonyatMuffPotter'strial,hissavingofBeckyfrompunishment,andhisheroicnavigationoutofthecave.Bytheendofthenovel,TomiscoaxingHuckintostayingattheWidowDouglas's,urginghisfriendto
accepttightcollars,Sundayschool,andgoodtablemanners-Heisnolongeradisobedientcharacterunderminingtheadultorder,butadefenderofrespectabilityandresponsibility.Intheend,growingupforTommeansembracingsocialcustomandsacrificingthefreedomsofchildhood・YetTorrTsdevelopmentisn^ttotallycoherent.Thenoveljumpsbackandforthamongseveralnarrativestrands:Tom'sgeneralmisbehavior,whichclimaxesintheJacksorTsIslandadventure;hiscourtshipofBecky,whichculminatesinhisacceptanceofblameforthebookthatsherips;andhisstrugglewithInjunJoe,whichendswithTomandHuck^sdiscoveryofthetreasure.Becauseofthepicaresque,orepisodic,natureoftheplot,Torrfscharactercanseeminconsistent,asitvariesdependinguponhissituation.Tomisaparadoxicalfigureinsomerespects一forexample,hehasnodeterminateage.SometimesTomshowsthenaiveteofasmallerchild,withhisinterestinmake-believeandsuperstitions.Ontheotherhand,TorrTsromanticinterestinBeckyandhisfascinationwithHuck'ssmokinganddrinkingseemmoretheconcernsofanadolescent.WhetherornotasinglecourseofdevelopmentcharacterizesTom'sadventures,asinglecharactertrait一TorrTsunflaggingenergyandthirstforadventure一propelsthenovelfromepisodetoepisode.Disobedientthoughhemaybe,TomendsupasSt.Petersburg^hero.Asthetowngossipssay,"[Tom]wouldbePresident,yet,ifheescapedhanging；5HuckleberryFinnInHuckleberryFinn,MarkTwaincreatedacharacterwhoexemplifiesfreedomwithin,andfrom,Americansociety.Hucklivesonthemarginsofsocietybecause,asthesonofthetowndrunk,heisprettymuchanorphan.Hesleepswherehepleases,providedthatnobodychaseshimoff,andheeatswhenhepleases,providedthathecanfindamorsel.Noonerequireshimtoattendschoolorchurch,bathe,ordressrespectably.Itisunderstandable,ifnotexpected,thatHucksmokesandswears.YearsofhavingtofendforhimselfhaveinvestedHuckwithasolidcommonsenseandapracticalcompetencethatcomplementTorrTsdreamyidealismandfantasticalapproachtoreality(Tomcreatesworldsforhimselfthatarebasedonthoseinstorieshehasread).ButHuckdoeshavetwotraitsincommonwithTom:azestforadventureandabeliefinsuperstition.ThroughHuck,Twainweighsthecostsandbenefitsoflivinginasocietyagainst
thoseoflivingindependentlyofsociety.Formostofthenovel,adultsocietydisapprovesofHuck,butbecauseTwainrendersHucksuchalikableboy,theadults9disapprovalofHuckgenerallyalienatesusfromthemandnotfromHuckhimself.AfterHucksavestheWidowDouglasandgetsrich,thescaletipsinthedirectionoflivinginsociety.ButHuck,unlikeTom,isn'tconvincedthattheexchangeoffreedomforstabilityisworthit.Hehaslittleuseforthemoneyhehasfoundandisquitedevotedtohisrough,independentlifestyle.Whenthenovelends,Huck,likeTom,isstillaworkinprogress,andwearen^tsurewhethertheWidowDouglas'sattemptstocivilizehimwillsucceed(TwainreservestheconclusionofHuck'sstoryforhislaternovel,TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn).InjunJoeInjunJoeisTomSawyer'svillain.Hisactionsaremotivated,frombeginningtoend,byunadulteratedmalevolence・WhenInjunJoeexplainshismotivationforrevengeagainstDr.RobinsonandlateragainsttheWidowDouglas,weseethathispersonalhistoryinvolvesothersmistreatingandexcludinghim.YetthedisproportionbetweenthewrongsInjunJoehassuffered一atleastasheenumeratesthem一andthelevelofvengeancehehopestoexactissoextremethatwearen^ttemptedtoexcusehisbehavior.Incontrast,MuffPotter，smisdeedsareinconsequentialcomparedtothepunishmenthestandstoreceive.OnemightalsocompareInjunJoetoSid:botharemotivatedbymalice,whichtheypaperoverwithaconvincingperformanceofinnocence・ThoughhisappearancechangeswhenhedisguiseshimselfasadeafandmuteSpaniard,InjunJoeundergoesnorealcharacterdevelopmentoverthecourseofthenovel.Heneverseemstorepentforhiscrimesorchangehisspitefuloutlook.Hisreappearancesindifferentpartsofthenovelhelptoprovideathreadofcontinuity,astheybringthemurder-caseplot,thetreasure-huntplot,andtheadventures-in-the-caveplotstogetherintoasinglenarrative.InjunJoe'spresencealsoaddssuspensetothenovel,becausewehaveverylittlesenseofwhetherTomandHuck'sconstantfearthatInjunJoewillhurtthemhasanybasisinreality.Themes,Motifs&SymbolsThemesThemesarethefundcunentalandoftenuniversalideasexploredinaliterary
work.MoralandSocialMaturationWhenthenovelopens,Tomisengagedinandoftentheorganizerofchildhoodpranksandmake-believegames.Asthenovelprogresses,theseinitiallyconsequence-freechildishgamestakeonmoreandmoregravity.Tomleadshimself,JoeHarper,Huck,and,inthecave,BeckyThatcherintoincreasinglydangeroussituations.Healsofindshimselfinpredicamentsinwhichhemustputhisconcernforothersabovehisconcernforhimself,suchaswhenhetakesBecky，spunishmentandwhenhetestifiesatInjunJoe5strial.AsTombeginstotakeinitiativetohelpothersinsteadofhimself,heshowshisincreasingmaturity,competence,andmoralintegrity.Tom'sadventurestoJackson'sIslandandMcDougaPsCavetakehimawayfromsociety.Thesesymbolicremovalshelptopreparehimtoreturntothevillagewithanew,moreadultoutlookonhisrelationshiptothecommunity.ThoughearlyonTomlooksuptoHuckasmucholderandwiser,bytheendofthenovel,Tom，smaturityhassurpassedHuck's.Torrfspersonalgrowthisevidentinhisinsistence,inthefaceofHuck^sdesiretofleeallsocialconstraints,thatHuckstaywiththeWidowDouglasandbecomecivilized.Society^HypocrisyTwaincomplicatesTom'spositionontheborderbetweenchildhoodandadulthoodbyridiculingandcriticizingthevaluesandpracticesoftheadultworldtowardwhichTomisheading.Twain，sharshestsatireexposesthehypocrisy一andoftentheessentialchildishness一ofsocialinstitutionssuchasschool,church,andthelaw,aswellaspublicopinion.Healsomocksindividuals,althoughwhendoingsohetendstobelessbitingandfocusesonflawsofcharacterthatweunderstandtobeuniversal.Twainshowsthatsocialauthoritydoesnotalwaysoperateonwise,sound,orconsistentprinciplesandthatinstitutionsfallpreytothesamekindsofmistakesthatindividualsdo.Inhisdepictionoffamilies,Twainshowsparentalauthorityandconstraintbalancedbyparentalloveandindulgence.ThoughsheattemptstorestrainandpunishTom,AuntPollyalwaysrelentsbecauseofherloveforhernephew.Asthenovelproceeds,asimilartendencytowardindulgencebecomesapparentwithinthebroadercommunityaswell.ThecommunityshowsitsindulgencewhenTom，sdangerousadventuresprovokeanoutpouringofconcern:thecommunityisperfectly
readytoforgiveTom，swrongsifitcanbesureofhissafety.TwainridiculestheabilityofthiscollectivetendencytowardgenerosityandforgivenesstogooverboardwhenhedescribesthetowrTssentimentalforgivenessofthevillainousInjunJoeafterhisdeath.Thegamesthechildrenplayoftenseemlikeattemptstosubvertauthorityandescapefromconventionalsociety.Skippingschool,sneakingoutatnight,playingtricksontheteacher,andrunningawayfordaysatatimeareallwaysofbreakingtherulesanddefyingauthority.Yet,Twainshowsusthatthesegamescanbemoreconventionalthantheyseem.Tomishighlyconcernedwithconformingtothecodesofbehaviorthathehaslearnedfromreading,andheoutlinesthevariouscriteriathatdefineapirate,aRobinHood,oracircusclown.Theboys，obsessionwithsuperstitionislikewiseanaddictiontoconvention,whichalsomirrorstheadultsociety，sfocusonreligion.Thus,thenovelshowsthatadultexistenceismoresimilartochildhoodexistencethanitmightseem・Thoughthenoveliscriticalofsociety'shypocrisy一thatis,ofthefrequentdiscordbetweenitsvaluesanditsbehavior一Twaindoesn'treallyadvocatesubversion.Thenoveldemonstratesthepotentialdangersofsubvertingauthorityjustasitdemonstratesthedangersofadheringtoauthoritytoostrictly.FreedomthroughSocialExclusionSt.Petersburgisaninsularcommunityinwhichoutsidersareeasilyidentified-ThemostnotablelocaloutsidersincludeHuckFinn,whofendsforhimselfoutsideofanyfamilystructurebecausehisfatherisadrunkard;MuffPotter,alsoadrunk;andInjunJoe,amalevolenthalf-breed.Despitethecommunitysclearseparationofoutsidersfrominsiders,however,itseemstohaveastrongimpulsetowardinclusiveness.ThecommunitytoleratesthedrunkennessofaharmlessrascallikeMuffPotter,andHuckismoreorlessprotectedeventhoughheexistsonthefringesofsociety.TomtooisanorphanwhohasbeentakeninbyAuntPollyoutofloveandfilialresponsibility.InjunJoeistheonlyresidentofSt.Petersburgwhoiscompletelyexcludedfromthecommunity.OnlyafterInjunJoe'sdeatharethetownspeopleabletotransformhim,throughtheirmanipulationofhismemory,intoatolerablepartofSt.Petersburgsociety.Huck，sexclusionmeansthatmanyoftheotherchildrenarenotallowedtoplaywithhim.Hereceivesnostructurededucationandoftendoesnotevenhaveenoughto
eatoraplacetosleep・Twainminimizestheseconcerns,however,infavorofpresentingthefreedomthatHuck'slowsocialstatusaffordshim.Huckcansmokeandsleepoutsideanddoallthethingsthattheotherboysdreamofdoing,withverylittleconstraint.Huck'swindfallattheendofthenovel,whentheboysfindthetreasure,threatenstostiflehisfreedom.TheWidowDouglas'sattentionsforceHucktochangehislifestyle,somethingHuckwouldprobablyneverchoosetodoonhisown.BylinkingHuck'sacquisitionofthetreasurewithhisassimilationintoSt.Petersburgsociety,Twainemphasizestheassociationbetweenfinancialstandingandsocialstanding.Besidestheobviousfactthatmoneyisanimportantingredientinsocialacceptance,socialexistenceclearlyisitselfakindofeconomy,inwhichcertaincostsaccompanycertainbenefits.Thepriceofsocialinclusionisalossofcompletefreedom.SuperstitioninanUncertainWorldTwainfirstexploressuperstitioninthegraveyard,whereTomandHuckgototryoutamagicalcureforwarts.Fromthispointforward,superstitionbecomesanimportantelementinalloftheboys5decisiomaking.TheconvenientaspectofTomandHuck，ssuperstitiousbeliefsisthattherearesomanyofthem,andtheyaresofreelyinterpretable;TomandHuckcanpickandchoosewhicheverbeliefsuitstheirneedsatthetime.Inthisregard,Twainsuggests,superstitionbearsaresemblancetoreligion一atleastasthepopulaceofSt.Petersburgpracticesit.Thehumorousnessoftheboys，obsessionwithwitches,ghosts,andgraveyardspapersover,tosomeextent,therealhorrorofthecircumstancestowhichtheboysareexposed:gravedigging,murder,starvation,andattemptedmutilation.Therelativeeasewithwhichtheyassimilatetheseghastlyeventsintotheirchildishworldisperhapsoneoftheleastrealisticaspectsofthenovel.(Ifthenovelwerewrittentoday,wemightexpecttoreadaboutthepsychicdamagetheseextremechildhoodexperienceshavedonetotheseboys.)Theboysnegotiateallthishorrorbecausetheyexistinaworldsuspendedsomewherebetweenrealityandmake-believe.Theirfearofdeathisrealandpervasive,forexample,butwealsohavethesensethattheydonotreallyunderstanddeathandallofitsramifications.MotifsMotifsarerecurringstructures,contrasts,andliterary^devicesthatcanhelptodevelopandinformthetext'smajorthemes.
CrimeThemanycrimescommittedinthenovelrangefromminorchildhoodtransgressionstocapitaloffenses一fromplayinghookytomurder.Thegamestheboysprefercenteroncrimeaswell,givingthemachancetoexploretheboldnessandheroisminvolvedinbreakingsocialexpectationswithoutactuallythreateningthesocialorder.Theboyswanttobepirates,robbers,andmurdererseventhoughtheyfeelremorsewhentheyactuallycommittheminorcrimeofstealingbacon.ThetwoscenesinwhichTomplaysRobinHood一who,instealingfromtherichandgivingtothepoorisbothacriminalandahero一areemblematicofhowTomassociatescrimewithdefendingvaluesandevenalteringthestructureofsociety.TradingThechildreninthenovelmaintainanelaborateminiatureeconomyinwhichtheyconstantlytradeamongstthemselvestreasuresthatwouldbejunktoadults.Theseexchangesreplicatethecommercialrelationshipsinwhichthechildrenwillhavetoengagewhentheygetolder.Manyofthecomplicationsthatmoneycreatesappearintheirexchanges.Tomswindleshisfriendsoutofalltheirfavoriteobjectsthroughakindoffalseadvertisingwhenhesellsthemtheopportunitytowhitewashthefence.HethenuseshisnewlyacquiredwealthtobuypowerandprestigeatSundayschool—rewardsthatshouldbeearnedratherthanbought.WhenTomandJoefightoverthetickinclass,weseeacaseinwhichadisagreementleadstheboys,whohavebeensharingquitecivilly,toreverttoaquarreloverownership.Thejumpfromthissmall-scalepropertyholdingatthebeginningofthenoveltothe$12,000treasureattheendisanextremeone.InspiteofallTomandHuck，spractice,theirmoneyisgiventoaresponsibleadult・Withtheirhealthyallowance,theboyscancontinuetoexploretheirroleascommercialcitizens,butatamoremoderaterate.TheCircusTheboysmentionagainandagaintheiradmirationforthecircuslifeandtheirdesiretobeclownswhentheygrowup・Thesereferencesemphasizetheinnocencewithwhichtheyapproachtheworld.RatherthanevaluatetherealmeritsandshortcomingsofthevariousoccupationsTomandHankcouldrealisticallychoose,theyliketoimaginethemselvesinrolestheyfindromanticorexciting・
ShowingOffTonfsshowingoffismostlydirectedtowardBeckyThatcher.Whenheshowsoffinitially,weguessthatheliterallyprancesaroundanddoesgymnastics.Later,themeansbywhichTomandBeckytrytoimpresseachothergrowmoresubtle,astheymanipulateAmyandAlfredinanefforttomakeeachotherjealous.IntheSundayschoolscene,Twainrevealsthatshowingoffisnotstrictlyachildhoodpractice.TheadultswhoaresupposedtobeauthorityfiguresinthechurcharesoawedbyJudgeThatcherandsoeagertoattracthisattentionandapprovalthattheytoobegintobehavelikechildren.Theroomdevolvesintoanabsolutespectacleofridiculousbehaviorbychildrenandadultsalike,culminatinginthepublicembarrassmentinwhichTomexposeshisignoranceoftheBible.SymbolsSymbolsareobjects,characters,figures,andcolorsusedtorepresentabstractideasorconcepts・TheCaveThecaverepresentsatrialthatTomhastopassbeforehecangraduateintomaturity.Coming-of-agestoriesofteninvolvetestsinwhichtheprotagonistisseparatedfromtherestofthesocietyforaperiodoftimeandfacessignificantdangersorchallenges.OnlyafterhavingsurvivedonthestrengthofhispersonalresourcesisTomreadytorejoinsociety.TheStormThestormonJackson'sIslandsymbolizesthedangerinvolvedintheboys'removalfromsociety.Itformspartofaninterruptivepatterninthenovel,inwhichperiodsofrelativepeaceandtranquilityalternatewithepisodesofhighadventureordanger・Later,whenTomissick,hebelievesthatthestormhittoindicatethatGocTswrathisdirectedathimpersonally.ThestormthusbecomesanexternalsymbolofTorn，sconscience.TheTreasureThetreasureisasymbolicgoalthatmarkstheendoftheboys，journey.ItbecomesaindicatorofTom'stransitionintoadulthoodandHuck^smovementintocivilizedsociety.Italsosymbolizestheboys5heroism,markingthemasexceptionalin
aworldwhereconformityistherule.TheVillageManyreadersinterpretthesmallvillageofSt.PetersburgasamicrocosmoftheUnitedStatesorofsocietyingeneral.AllofthemajorsocialinstitutionsarepresentonasmallscaleinthevillageandallaresusceptibletoTwain，scomictreatment.ThechallengesandjoysTomencountersinthevillageare,intheirbasicstnicture,onesthatheoranyreadercouldexpecttomeetanywhere.
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