Tom Sawyer

Description

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain, is one of those monumental novels written for the eternal adolescents, capturing the tranquility and innocence of childhood. The novelist followed in the footsteps of Tom Sawyer, a mischievous and adventurous child growing up in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, Missouri, along the Mississippi River. The story was set in the mid 19th century as an experience revealing the spirit of childhood through his adventures.

Known for his playful antics like running away to become a pirate, getting into school and all, and many other “Tom-ricious” trick on other boys about doing things, Tom finds companionship in the warm bonding of close-knit friends: adventurous friend Huck Finn and his romantic interest, Becky Thatcher.

One of the main plots arises when Tom and Huck witness a murder in the graveyard and decide whether to tell the truth or cover it. The story grows with Tom’s adventures, which follow more realistically as he learns for himself, befriends others, and grows up.

Themes run throughout childhood innocence, friendship, social class, and the strain between civilization and freedom. Twain’s style is humorously satirical, which raises the essence of American life and the complexity of growing up. It is for these reasons that The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is an eternal classic that continues to be cherished by people of all ages.