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Critical Review of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer written by Mark Twain is a novel about the adventures of a mischievous young boy named Tom Sawyer. Tom is a naughty boy who likes playing tricks on others and is often disobedient. Tom also happens to be incredibly smart which helps him when he is pulling off tricks. Throughout the novel, we are exposed to his naughtiness. Tom is far from perfect, he smokes, steals, robs, drinks, lies, and doesn’t listen to Aunt Polly. However, when it comes to critical situations, Tom has a moral standard. Though Tom may seem like a juvenile delinquent, deep down, he is brave and caring. Through The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, we are able to explore the many aspects of life and learn many important life lessons.


Childhood rebellion and being naughty is part of growing up and coming of age. Maturity doesn’t come the minute a child learns how to speak and walk and being disobedient and naughty are a part of being a child. Tom Sawyer and his friends are the embodiments of childhood rebellion. Their actions disappoint the adults around them causing them to be punished. Adults consider these actions unacceptable, but it is impossible to ignore the fact that this is part of growing up. Young children are often unkempt and hard to manage, causing them to be naughty. However, as one age, they mature and leave this rebellious and naughty childhood behavior behind. Slowly throughout the novel, we see a difference in Tom’s behavior as he becomes more mature and becomes a more responsible member of the community. No kid is perfect and being naughty and rebellious are just one of the few parts of growing up.


Having a good moral standard in life is important as it helps one distinguish between good and bad. Having a good moral standard refers to the norms one has for good and bad actions. Despite being mischievous, Tom’s conscience leads him to have a high moral standard and to tell the truth. Tom’s moral standard leads to him telling the Judge what happened the night at the graveyard and that Muff Potter is innocent. Tom may seem naughty at times, but when it comes to a critical situation, Tom has a moral standard and tells the truth. Having a good moral standard in life is important because it is the key to having a good conscience and making good decisions. Moral standards also help one distinguish between truth and falsehood. Demonstrating that one has a good moral standard is an important part of living a good and truthful life.


Making good friends and having good friends is an important part of life, as anyone can benefit from having a friend. Friends support each other and help each other out when needed. Maintaining a strong friendship is also important in life. A central theme in this book is the key concept of friendship. Tom has good friends that stick around with him, especially Huck. Tom and Huck do almost everything together and support each other. Tom, Joe, and Huck’s friendship enables them to create their own adventurous world. Their trust in each other allows them to overcome obstacles and create fun wherever they go. Trust and loyalty are two of the most crucial parts of a friendship. Friendship has many components that need to be met in order to develop a good and stable friendship. Having friends and maintaining a good friendship can benefit one in the long run.


Through following Tom, we can learn many important concepts and lessons of life. Tom, though he can be mischievous and naughty at times, has a good moral standard, making him brave and caring. Tom’s behavior, however, is viewed as rebellious by adults, but deep down, he is a good kid. Tom and his best friend Huck, though they get in a lot of trouble, have a strong friendship which helps them overcome obstacles in life. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a novel centered around a naughty little boy and his adventures around town.



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