MAJOR CHARACTERS

TOM SAWYER

An imaginative and mischievous boy named Tom Sawyer lives with his Aunt Polly and his half- brother, Sid, in the Mississipi River town of St. Petersburg, Missouri. As the title of the novel suggests, Tom Sawyer is the central character of the novel. Tom appears in almost every scene as the chief character. The one major exception occurs when Tom and Becky are lost in Cave and the focus of the novel switches to Huck Finn's search for Injun Joe.

Central to Tom's character is his age. Twain deliberately did not specify his age. For many readers, Tom's age fluctuates from scene to scene. Most readers like to view Tom's age as approaching puberty-around eleven or twelve years old. If he were younger, he would not be so interested in Becky Thatcher. His fondness for Becky exhibits a caring and maturity that goes beyond only "puppy love." Consider, for example, his protective attitude towards her when he cared for her in the cave episode.

Tom's character is a dynamic one, which moves from enjoyment in the most famous of boyhood games to actions that require a high degree of moral integrity. For example, his highly moral decision to break the boyish oath he took and to reveal Injun Joe's guilt in murdering Dr Robinson--an act that freed an innocent man and placed Tom, himself, in jeopardy. If we view Tom Sawyer simply as a boyhood adventure story, then we must assume that Twain viewed Tom erratically and used many episodes from his own youth at different times over a long period of time. Thus we have two Toms: one who plays boyish pranks on his Aunt Polly and one who has the maturity to save an innocent man and protect a frightened girl.

After playing hooky from school on Friday and dirtying his clothes in a fight, Tom is made to whitewash the fence as punishment on Saturday. At first, Tom is disappointed by having to forfeit his day off. However, he soon cleverly persuades his friends to trade him small treasures for the privilege of doing his work.

Tom accompanies Huckleberry Finn, the son of the town drunk, to the graveyard at night. At the graveyard, they witness the murder of young Dr Robinson by Injun Joe. Scared, Tom and Huck run away and swear not to tell anyone what they have seen. Injun Joe blames his companion Muff Potter, a hapless drunk, for the crime. Potter is wrongfully arrested, and Tom's anxiety and guilt begin to grow.

Tom, Huck and Tom's friend Joe Harper run away to an island to become pirates. While frolicking around and enjoying their new found freedom, the boys become aware that the community is searching in river for their bodies. Tom sneaks back home on night to observe the commotion. After a brief moment of remorse Tom is struck by the idea of appearing at his funeral and surprising everyone. He persuades Huck and Joe to do the same. Their return is met with great rejoicing.

Soon Muff Potter's trial begins, and Tom overcome by guilt, testifies against Injun Joe. Potter is acquitted, but Injun Joe flees the courtroom through a window.

Summer arrives. Tom and Huck go hunting for buried treasure in a haunted house. After entering upstairs they hear a noise below. Peering through holes in the floor, they see Injun Joe and his companion. By an amazing coincidence Injun Joe and his partner find a buried as of gold. Tom and Huck wriggle with delight at the prospect of the treasure. But they are disappointed when Injun Joe and his partner carry the treasure to hide under the cross.

Huck begins to shadow Injun Joe every night. Tom goes on a picnic to McDougal's Cave with Becky and their classmates. The same night, Huck sees Injun Joe and his partner and overhears their plans to attack the Widow Dougals, a kind resident of St. Petersburg. He runs to Mr. Welsh to fetch help. Thus he forestalls the violence and becomes a hero.

Tom and Becky get lost in the cave, and their absence is not discovered until the following morning. The men of the town begin to search for them in vain. Tom and Becky run out of food ad candles and become wea. Tom sees Injun Joe in the cave. He discovers that Injun Joe is using the cave as a hideout. Tom finds a way out of the cave. The town celebrates their return. Becky's father, Judge Thatcher, locks up the cave, Injun Joe, trapped inside, starves to death. A week later, Tom takes Huck to the cave and they find the treasure under the cross. The treasure invested in both Tom and Huck.

HUCKLEBERRY FINN

The adults look upon Huck Finn as a disgrace and as a bad influence upon their sons and daughters. The youngsters look at him with envy because he has complete freedom to do whatever he likes. His only living relative is his father who is the town drunkard and absent most of the time. Huck has no formal education; therefore, he looks to Tom and his book-learning as superior in intelligence to his own common sense. He admires Tom's fanciful notions about how to play games and readily joins in and is content to let Tom be the leader while he himself plays the lesser parts. All the children of the town liked him very much for the care free life oys.

Although Tom is the central or most dynamic character in the novel and the one who changes the most, we should not dismiss the change that occurs in Huck Finn. Huck is an outcast, and he conducts himself as an outcast. Until Mr. Welshman invites and welcomes Huck into his home, Huck has never been invited into anyone's house. He is realistic, knowing that he exists on the periphery of society.

Nevertheless, when the outward layers and superficial forms of society are stripped away, the reader sees another dimension of Huck's character revealed. At the end of the novel he proves his nobility when he risks his own life to protect the Widow Dougals, and unlike the typical boy he does not want praise or recognition. Nevertheless, Huck is very uncomfortable living in a decent house, sleeping in a good bed, wearing decent clothes and shoes, eating good food, and not being allowed to curse, swear, or smoke when he is adopted by the widow.

Huck is centrally involved in the Muff Potter story, the Jackson's Island adventure, and the story of Injun Joe and the treasure. And it is he who stops Injun Joe from attacking Widow Dougals. These final actions win the admiration of the community that had earlier spurned him. Thus the character of Huck develops as the novel progresses from an outcast to admirable boy