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Huck Finn
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- Please Post your response for Chapter 40-43
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- Please post your response for Chapter 34-36
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- Please Post your response for Chapter 28-30
- Please Post your response for Chapter 25-27
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March
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Tom is going overboard with the drama. It's so unpractical and fantastical. Swallowing sawdust? Moat? Wishing for watchmen and dogs to drug? Being sad that the task itself is so easy? Insisting on calling the picks "case knives"? Insisting on climbing the lightning rod? It's extreme. Is Mark Twain poking fun at romanticism here?
ReplyDeleteIn these chapters Huck and Tom serve as foils for each other. Why doesn't Huck just tell Tom: "Let's be practical"? Does he look up to Tom that much? Is he just going along for the fun of it?
Today in class, we touched a little on Mark Twain’s views of pioneer romanticism. It has appeared in chapter 35, where Tom Sawyer is consumed by his need to rescue Jim in the most difficult way possible. I think that in this chapter, Mark Twain was mocking the idea of romanticism, because the things that Tom wanted to do were just too ridiculous to be true. Imagine digging a hole through stone with knives! Instead of going the easy way and rescuing Jim in less than a day, they insist on going the long way around, which I find extremely stupid.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Diane. I think Tom is going too far with his adventures. Huck wanted to simply rescue his friend, not to have fun and take such a great risk whilst doing so! Tom is being impractical and taking the rescue as if it were a game.
ReplyDeleteI think Huck is still yet idolizing Tom a whole lot, so that is why he thinks it is improper to go against Tom's ideas, even though it would make the rescue a lot easier.
Diane: I think this is kinda like Huck. It is the extremity of Huck before, taking the same unneeded adventures and experiences Huck told Jim to do, I think Mark Twain is saying how Huck is a lot like Tom in some ways, always searching for adventure. Yes, like what Tereasa said, I think Huck idolizes Tom a lot.
ReplyDeleteTom is really having too much fun trying save Jim. He "invents" obstacles for himself when what he is doing would hurt his reputation and probably get himself killed. He even wants to make the escape "movie-like", where he wants to cut off the chain and give Jim a shirt where he can write his journal in blood. Tom also wants to saw Jim's leg off to free him from the chains, saying that it is a nice touch. All these wild ideas and unneeded obstacles are really Tom's style, where he wants to do everything the craziest and best looking way. Tom has no life-and-death importance in his mind, and just simply views Jim's liberation just as a big opportunity for fun and adventure.
ReplyDeleteDiane: I think that Huck is really like that because in Mark Twains novel "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" Huck pretty much followed Tom everywhere. Tom at that time was the only person treating Huck as a friend, everyone else regarded Huck as a social outcast because of his father.
ReplyDeleteTom is so crazy! Imagining games is okay, but when you actually want to help someone, romanticism is moot! He seems to see this whole thing as nothing but a fun game or diversion. What happened to helping someone and doing it right? Huck is much more sensible.
ReplyDeleteRichard: Yeah, Tom obviously isn't really helping out of the good of his heart. He doesn't think of Jim as a friend, I think. He just wants to play.
Tom is in way over his head. I dont get why Tom is like this. Is he just in it for the thrills? or the adventures? or the feeling of being a "hero." I dont think hes any of this things. Right now, i think hes just plain stupid. Jim's life could be at stake here, but all he wants is to look like one of the heroes he's read about in his story books.
ReplyDeleteI thought Tom's concept of "stealing what you need" was interesting. When Huck stole a watermelon, Tom left a dime and didn't approve of Huck's actions because he didn't need it to get out of prison. I think that it is still wrong to steal even if it is to get out of prison, because people are in prison for the heinous acts they have done and stealing stuff just makes it worse.
ReplyDeleteI also thought Tom's adventurous nature has gone a bit overboard. He doesn't want things to be so simple. He always wanted to copy the books and things turn more complicated for them and they end up wasting time and energy.
I agree with Dawn, Tom is crazy. Why does he want to add obstacles to their "mission"? Why not go the easy way? =.= I don't get Tom... He takes these adventure books waayyyy too seriously.
ReplyDeleteI think Tom isn't really helping Jim for the sake of helping someone. He is simply doing it for the fun of it, because he thinks it's all just an exciting game, when in reality, it is anything but a game, it is a very serious matter that can result in death.
Huck obviously has a clearer idea of how to save Jim using the most efficient way, so why doesn't Huck insist on sticking to the simple and practical methods? Does he really look up to Tom thaaattttt much to do everything he says?
I agree with Diane. Tom is going too far with the prisoner business. He wants to do everything the way people in books do it. He wants guards to have their throats slit, he wants bugs, rats, and who knows what other disgusting things. I'm interested by what Tom was about to say in the beginning, but stopped himself in time. I think Huck is really thankful for Tom helping him, but his admiration of Tom also helps him accept Tom's whimsical decisions.
ReplyDeleteAs Huck is concerned only with breaking Jim out of slavery, He does not understand that for Tom, this is all just a game. I think we are kind of getting back to the beginning where once again, Tom is making the decisions, while Huck plays along, and Jim simply accepts. Interestingly, Tom is still the same boy he was when the reader last saw him in the earliest chapters of the novel. However, Huck has developed into a more mature person.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Do you think Tom is a moral person?
"What a head for a boy to have! If I had Tom Sawyer’s head I wouldn’t trade off to be a duke, nor mate of a steamboat, nor a clown in a circus, nor nothing I can think of. I went to thinking out a plan, but only just to be doing something; I knowed very well where the right plan was going to come from." (Pg 224)
ReplyDeleteFrom this quote, we can definetly see Huck’s admiration for Tom. Look at how he describes him. Without objection, Huck decides to follow Tom’s plan to save Jim even though his plan “would make Jim just as free a man as mine (Huck) would.” Huck’s plan was simple while Tom’s was quite confusing. Tom believes that this plan should be done like the ones he read in his book. This showed that Tom was full of adventure and had great leadership skills and his strong belief in what he has read from books.
Again, Huck describes Tom as “a boy that was respectable and well brung up…and he was bright and not leather-headed; knowing and not ignorant; and not mean, but kind…” (Pg 225) He seems to wish that he was Tom Sawyer, but why is Tom so willing to help steal Jim out of Slavery? Does Tom admire Huck like Huck admires him?
Tom agrees to help, not because he cares about Jim, but because he wants an adventure. I think he's a really interesting character. He makes obstables for themselves when they could much more easily rescue Jim out. And Huck needs to learn to make his own decisions, and not always follow Tom's. They both get too caught up with the excitement and fun that they are having, that they forgot that they're trying to save Jim's lives. Personally I think that Huck is somewhat better without Tom, because Tom influences Huck and makes him forget some things he has realized before.
ReplyDeleteI think Tom's ignorance is clearly shown in these few chapters. Not only is he too dependent on romanticism and books that are impractical, but the fact that he was willing to endanger both Jim's and Huck's lives is disturbing. It becomes clear that he does not really care about Huck's or Jim's lives, but rather just wants to have an adventure. Nevertheless, i can't help but wonder why Huck was willing to follow Tom in the first place, despite the fact that he knew his plans were ridiculous. It becomes even more ironic when Huck describes Tom as "knowing and not ignorant"
ReplyDeleteI think the theme of superstitions comes up once again when the Phelp's black slave believes that he was troubled by witches.
Like everyone said above, Tom has gone a little too far for adventure. Breaking Jim out of his imprisonment is already a dangerous plan, why should anyone add anymore trouble by creating your own obstacles? I thought it was pretty weird that he'd do that. Normally, most people would find the easiest way to do something, but not Tom. He WANTS to make everything hard so that it'll add a little spice to their "adventure" of breaking Jim out of imprisonment. Do you think Mark Twain is using Tom to reflect/satire the concept of pioneer romanticism?
ReplyDeleteAlso, why do you think Tom is willing to risk his family and his own reputation to save Jim. He barely knows Jim, apart from the scene in the beginning of the book when they were they were trying to sneak out. Is it only because of his friendship with Huck? Or does he just want adventure?
Tom Sawyer’s adventurous spirit makes the recent chapters seem very exciting. Yet I think he shouldn’t have gone through all this trouble to get Jim out. Tom and Huck were considered to be stealing an African American slave and if they were caught they would have been in big trouble. The part about how Mr. Phelps comes in and prays with Jim along with Mrs. Phelps’ care is interesting. It is almost as if the Phelps treat Jim as a guest instead of a runaway slave. I wonder why they do that?
ReplyDeleteI find these three chapters interesting because of how Huck and Tom try to sort out how they are going to steal Jim. Huck has a more proficient method of dealing Jim while Tom expresses the need to add details into the escape and that the escape should be done the right way, not the wrong way. Tom gets all his ideas from books and movies and believes that stealing a black slave involves a lot of careful detailing. At first, Huck was going along well with Tom, but near the middle of the 3 chapters, Huck resumes his authority over Tom, believing that his choice is much better than Tom’s wacky plan.
ReplyDeleteWe see Tom's real reason why he's helping Jim out - not because he's helping Huck's friend, or anything, but pretty much - just for fun and adventure and living out the books. But yeah, his ideas are a bit crazy :D i think here twain is antiromanticism - mocking the victorian age and all its romantic fairy taling, etc again :D
ReplyDeleteI don't really get why neither Huck or Jim try to stop all Tom's craziness. Perhaps, yeah like Tereasa said, Huck still idolises Tom. I think of it as he doesn't really understand (or have read) 'all the stuff in the books' and therefore is ignorant enough to stop all the commotion. Jim, on the other hand, is the same, but he also has another reason - he doesnt dare talk back to Tom, who still holds the reasoning that the blacks are lower, that Jim is lower.
I find it a bit ironic/funny that Tom makes Huck pay for the watermelon he stole from the blacks, yet Tom and Huck are stealing things off Aunt Sally and Silas Phelps for tools to 'rescue' Jim with at the same time :D
Mark Twain is satirizing romanticism in these chapters by writing of Tom Sawyer's crazy rescue plans. His ideas may sound fantastic and slightly extravagant, but are actually stupid and completely absurd. Tom is a foil to Huck, who just wants to get Jim back in the fastest, most practical way. I'm glad that Huck realized that the plans could get them all killed. Although Huck idolizes Tom, he was the sensible one in that particular situation.
ReplyDeleteI really don't think that Tom is taking any of this seriously. (I read ahead: no spoilers) It still is quite apparent that Tom was either playful to the extent of foolishness regarding the matter or else he doesn't really care at all.
ReplyDeleteMost of us would try to get a job done as quickly and easily as possible, but Tom was seemingly trying to make a novel of it. As agreed from above, Clemens is definitely satirizing romanticism, but I think that this takes it over the edge. Tom is allegedly the smart one, the educated one, the king of mischief, and now, he is proving to have less wit than Huck?
I suppose Clemens is also mocking education--see how useless and distant it is from real life!
The farther I read in the chapters, the more irritated I get. What is with Tom Sawyer? I really dislike it when he HAS to make plans complicated, when there is an obvious easy way out. Tom is just too creative with his fantastical, impossible ways. Using case knives to dig? Climbing a lightning rod? Swallowing sawdust? Writing in blood?!! WOW it's just too much. I believe that Tom is too wrapped up in his own fantasy bubble, not even thinking about if his actions are foolish or time-killing. He doesn't listen to Huck's ideas, but however, until he finds out how silly his plans are, he finally will give in. Tom Sawyer is probably just too bored with his life that he creates more problems that he needs to solve for himself. The only reason he is willing to help how Huck is not because he cares for Jim, but he wants to have the feeling of being on an adventure, which is thrilling.
ReplyDeleteHere is an example on how he realizes his plans don't work: In Chapter 35, he starts to realize how his plans barely work. He was "dog-tired" trying to dig into the dirt with a case knife.
Tom Sawyer’s adventurous spirit makes the recent chapters seem very exciting. He should definately save his only true friend. It becomes clear that Tom does not really care about Huck's or Jim's lives, but rather just wants to have an adventure. Nevertheless, i can't help but wonder why Huck was willing to follow Tom in the first place, despite the fact that he knew his plans were ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI think that Tom lacks a certain grasp with reality. Either that, or Tom is truly a hopeless romantic. I do believe that Twain is poking fun at romanticism. Poor Jim, being subject to snakes and rats, just because Tom wishes to imitate the Tower of London.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading these few chapters, I don't understand why Huck idolizes Tom. A contrast between the thoughts of Huck and Tom are clearly shown in these few chapters. Tom's ideas are unpractical and completely differen't from Huck's. Huck finds the fastest way to do things, but Tom tries to find the most challenging way to do things.
ReplyDeleteOn page 232, Tom says, "Oh shucks, Huck Finn, if I was as ignorant as you I'd keep still-that's what I'd do." I find this pretty ironic because Tom is the one that's being impractical and ignorant.
By the sound of it, Huck seems a lot more mature then Tom. Tom made things harder for them by creating obstacles putting all of their lives, especially Jim, on the line.
ReplyDeleteTom does not take anything seriously enough. He thinks everything is a game and when they cannot do it as the people in the story did, Tom chickened out and made lame excuses saying how the circumstances are different. How could Huck be so dumb as to look up to someone who is as stupid and not into reality as Tom? I hope Jim won’t get into any trouble because of Tom.
I think what makes this story very interesting is that, for example, the author tries to exaggerate or over-do things. In these chapters, we saw that Huck had asked Tom to help steal Jim and without thinking he agreed. In the process of making the story more interesting, Mark Twain made Tom think of all these unneccessary stuff to "try to make the rescue look like as if they were done by heroes". It was because of these extra things that made the story so interesting to be read.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in these chapters, what I found very interesting was the fact that even though Huck and Tom were both in danger, Tom still wanted to make the rescue heroic by adding small stuffs such as writing on tin plates or digging with crate knives. In the end, because it was nearly impossible, a lot of these additional unneccessary ideas were abandoned. In them, the crate knives were abandoned too because it would take too long.
I think Tom likes to make everything as dramatic as possible. He said what's the point of having a plan if its not troublesome. You can tell when Huck wasn't surprise that Tom didn't like his plan as much and thought it was "mild," because Tom had probably said that about Huck's other plans before. Tom has a fickle personality, he changes his plan as he goes along, but like what Huck said, it always end up right anyways, just that there's always a higher chance of them getting hurt with Tom's plans.
ReplyDeleteAs I am reading this I am completely awestruck by Tom's lust for adventure. This task could be done at a more efficient rate if they were to follow Huck's plan. Yet Huck chooses to look up to Tom. This idoltry seems to be a bit flawed because Tom is not working a smart way rather he is working a way that looks good. However they have to take into account that they don't have an audience to please and that this new method could foil their plans and even kill them! Frankly I am totally confused as about why Huck idolizes Tom so.
ReplyDeleteTom is becomes more of a major character near the end of the novel. Tom Sawyer has an adventurous spirit and it makes these few chapters more exciting and fun to read (maybe partly because I like adventure stories). As adventurous as Tom is, it seems like he values adventure more than friendship, because he doesn’t really help Huck and Jim out. Actually, he does help out, but it’s only for the fun and adventures (his main purpose of helping Huck and Jim is for the fun and not for the sake of helping friends). Is Tom really a true friend to Huck? If Tom only helps Huck and Jim out for the sake of having fun and experiencing more adventures, why does Huck still idolizes Tom?
ReplyDeleteTom's plans are crazy, so why doesn't Huck object at first? Why doesn't he tell Tom that there's ways that don't involve insane plots and risking their live? I think it is because Huck was still somewhat fascinated by Tom's eloquent descriptions, but he finds a way to overcome it later to exert his authority so that his plan can be used, which will be successful and safe for everyone. Also, does Tom really understand the severity of what he is doing? Does he realize what could happen to him for what he is doing? Although he says that he does, I believe that he really has no idea. He just wants to have an adventure because he is the kind of kid that craves adventure. He doesn't want to give up the adventure, so he just tells Huck he understands to keep Huck from holding him back from it.
ReplyDeleteI personally think that these chapters are showing the difference between Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. For example in chapter 35, in that chapter we can easily see and know that Tom reads many books which he’s more educated, and Huck wasn’t as educated and as smart as Tom was. But I personally think that they are both smart in different ways. Also I think Huck really listens to Tom a lot and respects him (sort of). He does everything that Tom calls him to do, like smouch the three knives in the last part of chapter 35. But in the same way I think Tom is still thinking that it’s just for fun or an adventure to him, also he goes very dramatic about very single thing that he and Huck talked and argue about. Also because the quote that says, “Let’s be practical.” I think it shows that Tom is taking this problem as if it was for fun or and adventure.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNAt is a ignorant, easy to be decieved, and superstitious watchkeeper. When Jim cried out Huck and Tom's names, Nat was tricked that he was hallucinated by witches. Supersitution as a theme is recurred again in this novel when Nat blamed everything to the witches. I think I've seen a transformation in Jim, because he used to be like Nat, who is easy to be tricked. However after Jim had spent time with Huck, he learned indirectly how to lie in order to get away. When Nat asked Jim if he knew Tom and Huck, he said, "No sah. I haint said anything, sah."
ReplyDeleteAmy: Does Tom admire Huck like Huck admires him?
ReplyDeleteI don’t think so. When Huck first met Tom after the long period of time, Tom took a while to think if he wanted to help. When Tom answered it sounded as if he was only thinking about the adventure he was going to have. So I think Tom had never thought about it before. And because Huck has seen Tom do brave things before, he admires Tom. But Tom has never seen Huck do anything brave before so I think Tom doesn’t admire Huck.
Steven: I think Mr. and Mrs. Phelps treat Jim as a guest because I think they know something that Huck doesn’t know. Mr. Phelps must have wanted Jim for a certain reason, other than the money.
Kimberly: I think Huck still idolizes Tom, because he admires Tom’s creativity to make things more interesting, and Tom’s personality loosens Huck’s worries about Jim. Maybe that’s why Huck still idolize Tom.
ReplyDelete"I knowed mighty well that whenever he got his plan ready it wouldn't have non objections to it. And it didn't. He told me what it was, and I see in a minute it was fifteen worth of mine, and would make Jim as free a man as mine would, and maybe get us all killed besides."
ReplyDeleteWhat is the significance of this quote? Why does Huck say that Tom's plan was a lot better than his?
Is the reason that Tom agreed to help Huck to help Jim break free is that Tom wanted to have an adventure? If it is, that is really stupid. Tom is just making the plan so much harder. The interesting thing is that, I think Huck has matured a lot and now compared to Tom, Tom is just like a little kid wanting to play this game. But Huck is sort of weird in a way too, because he just does whatever Tom wants to do. I can’t wait to read what happens next. :D
ReplyDelete I think in these chapters, it really shows how Huck is. Though he wasn’t really educated, he can always come up with good ideas (maybe not very good idea, but we can see he’s willing to save Jim). I think sometime when Huck and Tom are discussing ways to save Jim, Tom is kind of pompous that he never pay attention on Huck because he is more experienced than Huck.
ReplyDeleteTom Sawyer obviously wants adventure, and Mark Twain shows the romantisizm and mocks it. Basically, Tom goes crazy with ideas, while Huck tries to be more rational. If Jim's life wasnt at stake here, would Huck have willingly went with all those crazy ideas?
ReplyDeleteTom has really crossed the line. He came up with these absurd plans to get Jim out. I know he's an adventurous guy, but what he has done in these chapter is far too over. At this point, I think Huck is still surprised that Tom is helping him go through this process in helping Jim escape. It is weird that Huck doesn't say anything to Tom about this unneeded plans. I think at this point, Huck still idolizes Tom and is still very much like a servant master relation. Huck doesn't question anything that Tom says or does, rather he just obeys his every order.
ReplyDeleteIn these few chapters when they plan to try to help Jim escape, even though they could get JIm out in easy ways but Tom would always tell him its too easy and kept following the ways inside adventure books.
ReplyDeleteThis shows that Tom always follows what the books says and is does not want to do things that the adevnture book does.
Tom thinks of this crazy ideas! He is extremely adventurous compared to Huck. Tom thinks of these outrageous ideas such as cutting Jim's foot with a saw, and digging underground with just knives. He refused to use shovels and picks, because then that would be easier. Tom said it might even take years and years to reach Jim. I think Tom is very adventurous. He doesn't like taking the easy way out. He likes to accomplish tasks that prove him to be a hero. That is why Huck idolizes Tom--because Tom is a hero.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Tom cares about Jim's freedom even a fraction as much as he loves an adventure. For instance, on page 239(of the old version), Tom even fantasizes about dragging this simple, easy rescue on for years. Also, even after Tom and Huck had the perfect opportunity to save Jim from captivity, Tom refuses to accept the simplicity of the plan and insists on adding a few exciting aspects. These examples also show that, while Jim is desperate to get out as soon as possible, Tom couldn't care less about the time limit and is focused on making this a real adventure.
ReplyDelete[On a smaller note:]
"Tom said that what he meant was, we could steal anything we needed." (pg 233)
I found this quote extremely ironic. Tom constantly adds unnecessary steps in their plans to save Jim, but here he is telling Huck that they should only steal what is necessary.
After Tom and Huck done is all about their reputation, but not Huck, he really can trade his life and his reputation for Jim. As for Tom, he really doesn't want to lose his reputation, so thats why he plan this plan so difficult, long, also very dangerous. So i think Huck is doubting Tom by spending to much time on the plan.
ReplyDeleteI also think that Tom wants to betray Huck, because he is delaying the time to save Jim.
I disagree with Fernando saying that Tom will betray Huck, because they both game up themselves for Jim, so neither of them could be left behind. Their street-smartness should know that leaving alone couldn't save anyone.
ReplyDeleteTom does so much unnecessary things while freeing Jim, that one thinks that he is trying to do things in fantasy books into reality. The problem with Tom is that he thinks too much about being heroic and less about the life of Jim. If the plot is uncovered, their lives and Jim's life are all at risk. So I think that the only reason that Tom agreed to try and free Jim is that he wants some adventure and fun that is challenging enough. He knows that Huck would probably agree whatever schemes he has. I can even imagine that even if his plot is uncovered, he could blame everything on Jim and Huck, so he could use them as a scapegoat. What exactly makes Huck think that these plans are necessary to rescue Jim?
ReplyDeleteIn these few chapters, Tom’s impression is a little bit different from the way Mark Twain described in the beginning of the novel. Tom follows principles and set principle especially when processing out the plans of trying to get Jim free. Somehow, I found Huck look up to Tom in some ways, as for the leadership or the coolness of Tom. Tom thinks it’s ok to steal the things you need, I guess this make him not moral. What’s the difference in these chapters about Tom and Huck? Also, Mark Twain mention a bit about Huck not liking some of the acts of Tom, but he didn’t mention it instead he just follows what Tom said. Is there a reason why Huck wouldn’t oppose or disagree with Tom?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Diane. I think that Tom is taking too much for his adventures. Huck just wanted to rescue Jim, but Tom makes it more complicated and dangerous. Tom got crazy ideas, while Huck is trying to be rational and efficient. I think there might have a conflict between Huck and Tom.
ReplyDeleteThrough these chapters, Tom has overdone things too much, especially when he insists that Jim should cut his leg in order to escape. In stead of being generally street smart, Tom's romanticism seems to backfire his plan for the original task: to save Jim.
ReplyDeleteI can see in this chapter how Huck indirectly states the ridiculousness of Tom's advices.
I think Tom is thinking of this saving Jim thing as more of a very fun adventure and not as a saving someone thing. so i think that tom is getting too into the adventure idea
ReplyDeleteI'm running out of creative word to use here, so I think I'll be blunt...again.
ReplyDeleteApparently, Tom is really overdoing it. It is understandable that Tom has a deep love for romantic drama, but this time, he really messes things up by going overboard. When Jim could've been free in one day, it has taken so much more. Tom is apparently taking material and ideas from literary content, stuff that is purely fiction. Perhaps he's taking things too literally? I feel sorry for Huck because he tried to tell Tom that his ideas were foolish, but he was ignored.
Hannah:
It's pretty clear: Tom is an adventure-seeking fellow (and imagination pumped too). Huck is street-smart and ideally logical. I'm pretty sure Huck wanted to oppose Tom, but Tom seems to always "convince" Huck enough that his ideas were right, no matter how ridiculous they may be.
Honestly, I just can't stop thinking about how ridiculously stupid Tom is. He says things are meant to be as the ways people do it in fiction and in old history. Can't he grow up and learn about his true surrounding society? I'm sorry if that's offensive to anyone.
in these chapters we clearly see how Tom lives for adventure and thinks of everything as an adventure. in fact, i think the only reason hes helping jim is for the sake of adventure. he comes up with sophisticated plans which are completely unnecessary, and his plans could ultimately get them all killed. Tom is too obsessed with what happens in books. and hes been this way since the beginning of the book. in fact, a lot of these characters are very static, and maybe twain is trying to say something about how people are raised or how they act and learn.
ReplyDeleteI believe Tom is a bit of a paradox to himself. In his mind, any amount of theft, mischief, or wrongdoing is justified when there is an adventure involved. However, for little trifles such as taking a watermelon, he insists that it is wrong and that to do so would require compensation. I believe this is a warping of his values because grand theft is acceptable to him, but petty theft is not.
ReplyDelete