201335120443 Song Yuxiang
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, I have read this book fee years ago. I read it because I heard it was a good book, and partially because I also read another Mark Twain book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and it was a good book, too.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, like many of Mark Twain’s other works, contains a good deal of social commentary. But, at heart, the novel is a boy’s story. Indeed, Mark Twain himself calls the book “a history of a boy.” He also states that the characters and plot are based on real people and events in his own boyhood. The resulting tale is as lively as you could imagine.
Tom Sawyer is full of mischief.
The main character, Tom, constantly searches for new adventures, new tricks to play, or new ways to break the rules without getting into trouble.
I was fascinated by Twain’s ability for showing the environment and character through action and spontaneous dialogue. I was instantly transported to the three great elm trees in the graveyard, waiting and listening with Tom and Huck, urging suspenseful caution at the very first, “Sh!” In addition, because Tom and friends were such extravagantly imaginative boys, I was able to envision their surroundings as they whooped and hollered through their Robin Hood Adventures.
One could ‘feel’ the despair of both Tom and Becky as their attempts at manipulating jealousy failed. Twain created a moving picture for us in his masterful use of the descriptive. Letting what was not said influence events as well, and as fully, as what was said.
In the story one can feel Tom’s struggle with growing up and accepting responsibility. Tom fights with everything inside himself to hang on to his carefree childhood.
In the end, without awareness, the sinister creeping of maturity finds Tom walking the steps of responsibility to protect Becky when she is found to be in danger. In addition, Tom’s friendship with Huck changes as he convinces Huck to take on respectability. I would say, “Tom Sawyer” may quite possibly be America’s version of Britain’s famous “Peter Pan.” The story was well read and well done.