Tom Sawyer is a restless, funny boy who does not like to listen to adults and dreams of becoming as free as his friend, the homeless Huckleberry Finn. Let's take a brief look at the characterization of Tom Sawyer, a hero from Mark Twain's book.
Tom Sawyer has more than enough energy. He always comes up with something interesting, his wit and enterprise seem genius for the age of twelve. Tom is an orphan, and Aunt Polly is raising the boy. She cannot be called evil, she is generally good and kind, but she is guided by the principle from the Bible, which talks about proper punishment for a child. Therefore, Aunt Polly considers it her duty to punish the pupil for the cause.
Although we are talking about the characterization of Tom Sawyer, it is worth mentioning that the good boy and terrible sneak Siddy, Tom Sawyer’s half-brother, is being raised by Aunt Polly, and a sweet and patient girl Mary, who is Tom’s cousin, also lives with them. It is clear that Siddy is the opposite of Tom, they are so different in character and views on how to live. That's why Siddy likes to tell tales, and Tom is not averse to telling jokes.
What is told in the book about Tom Sawyer
For example, one day Tom accidentally acted as a witness to a murder and even managed to expose the criminal. Then he got engaged to a girl from his class, ran away from home in order to start living on a distant island where there was no one. Tom Sawyer attended his funeral, and one day he got lost in a cave, but was able to find his way out in time. He also found a treasure. All these adventures show the characteristics of Tom Sawyer.
If you look at the purpose of the book, you can see that the image of Tom Sawyer represents the carefree and wonderful childhood of the children in the mid-19th century.
A striking episode characterizing Tom
The characterization of Tom Sawyer is revealed very well at the very beginning of the story. Let's look at one episode from his life.
One day, instead of going to school, Tom decided to go for a swim. Aunt Polly found out about these pranks and roughly punished her pupil - Tom had to whitewash the long fence. But that's not so bad. I had to do the whitewashing in the middle of Saturday - a day off! The guys were playing happily at this time, and Tom could already imagine how they would laugh at him, seeing their friend doing tedious work.
Tom Sawyer was not at a loss; he made a cunning plan. There were a lot of useful things in his pockets, for example, a dead rat with a string (for greater convenience, untwist it in the air) or a key that could not open anything. But is it really possible to buy at least a little freedom with these “jewels”? The boy Ben approached Tom, clearly with the intention of getting behind him. And then the characterization of Tom Sawyer was revealed in all its glory. What did Tom come up with?
Our sly guy told Ben that painting a fence is his favorite thing to do, and that's why he's happy to do it. Ben first began to tease, but Tom asked in surprise what kind of work Ben thought was good, and then announced to him that Aunt Polly barely agreed to entrust this responsibility for whitewashing the fence to Tom. Tom's idea and his plan turned out to be correct, because soon not only the rogue Ben, but also others begged Tom to let them work on the whitewash...
Tom made an important conclusion, and so did we: when work, even difficult and tedious work, is not paid, it becomes not work, but a hobby, and doing it is interesting. But as soon as they start paying for it, the hobby will turn into work, and this is already boring.
You learned what the characteristics of Tom Sawyer are, what kind of character he is and what we can learn from him. Be sure to read about his adventures.
In the image of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain portrayed himself “I told about my own tricks in Tom Sawyer,” the writer told his friend and future biographer Paine. “I was a mischievous little boy and gave my mother a lot of trouble, but I think she liked it.” . She had no trouble with my brother Henry, who was two years younger than me. It seems to me that his constant obedience, truthfulness and integrity would have tired her with their monotony if I had not brought variety with my mischief. Henry is Sid in Tom Sawyer But Henry was much subtler and smarter than Sid. It was Henry who drew my mother’s attention to the fact that the thread with which she sewed up the collar of my shirt so that I wouldn’t wear it had changed its color. I was punished, but Henry got it from me! He often got it in advance for such things.”
Mark Twain also revealed other prototypes for his stories. Under the name of Aunt Polly, he portrayed his mother, under the name of Becky Thacher, one of his school friends, and under the name of Huck Finn, his bosom friend Tom Blenkenship, the son of a local drunkard. Tom Sawyer, whose freedom was limited at every step, had every reason to envy his lucky rival “Huckleberry did what he wanted without asking anyone. In dry weather, he spent the night on someone's porch, and if it rained, then in an empty barrel; he didn’t have to go to school or church, he didn’t have to listen to anyone; if he wanted, he would go fishing or swim wherever he wanted, sit on the river as long as he wanted, no one forbade him to fight... he did not have to wash or dress in anything clean, and he was also a master at swearing. In a word, this ragged man had everything that gives life value. That’s what all the tortured, tortured boys from decent families in St. Petersburg thought.”
Even the sinister Indian Joe and the kindest Negro Jim had their real prototypes. The first one “really got lost in the cave and would have died of hunger there if it weren’t for the bats that he fed on there. “In Tom Sawyer, I starved him to death because it was necessary in the story to make it more interesting. In fact, he remained alive."
The second - Uncle Daniel - endlessly told little Sam Clemens wonderful black tales. “I named this Uncle Daniel “Jim” in the book and took him on a raft down the Mississippi. I love his kind black face now, as I loved him sixty years ago...” recalled Mark Twain, already a very old man. The stories about Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, despite the abundance of non-fictional life facts, are by no means autobiographical. Starting from his childhood impressions, Mark Twain combined his experiences with fiction - with a generalized realistic truth. Intense action unfolds against the vividly outlined social and everyday background of provincial America in the 1840s. s, when the slave trade still flourished in the South.
If in the first story the story is told from the third person, then in the second the narrator is Huckleberry Finn himself. But in both works, Mark Twain equally well depicts events from the point of view of his young heroes, without deviating anywhere from the peculiarities of the worldview and psychology of childhood. At the same time, the author very subtly and skillfully implements his artistic plan: to contrast the rich spiritual world of a boy from a “decent family” and a tramp boy with the spiritual poverty of the inhabitants of St. Petersburg; reveal the glaring discrepancy between the ostensible “Christian morality” and the concrete life practices that boys are forced to confront at every turn.
What could be more boring than a tiresome Sunday sermon, especially on a hot day? Everyone is bored and tolerant, but Tom cannot stand boredom. Having staged a hilarious performance in the church with a pinched beetle and a poodle, “Tom Sawyer walked home in the most cheerful mood, thinking to himself that sometimes a church service wasn’t so bad if you introduced just a little variety into it.” Tom's lively mind and resourcefulness get him out of all difficulties and troubles. One has only to remember any episode from his many clashes with Aunt Polly, starting with the whitewashing of the fence. To get rid of the bitter mixture, Tom gives it to the cat to “taste”
* “Well, sir, why did you need to torture the poor animal?
* - I felt sorry for him: after all, he doesn’t have an aunt.
* - No aunt! Fools! What does this have to do with auntie!
* - Moreover. If he had an aunt, she would have burned his insides herself! She would have burned his guts, if she hadn’t noticed that he was a cat and not a boy!
* Aunt Polly suddenly felt remorse."
In this way, Tom Sawyer protects himself from Aunt Polly’s addiction to testing the latest medical means on him. Due to the fact that the boy does not take into account any conventions and speaks about everything as he thinks, dogmatic “truths” are subject to critical reassessment.
* “The church is just rubbish compared to the circus,” Tom declares. “The circus always performs something. When I grow up, I'll become a clown."
* “He caught Joe Harper reading the Bible and turned away with grief from this sad picture.”
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is a wonderful book, magical, mysterious. It is beautiful primarily for its depth. Every person at any age can find something of their own in it: a child - a fascinating story, an adult - Mark Twain’s sparkling humor and memories of childhood. The main character of the novel appears in a new light during each reading of the work, i.e. The characterization of Tom Sawyer is always different, always fresh.
Tom Sawyer is an ordinary child
It is unlikely that Thomas Sawyer can be called a hooligan; rather, he is a mischief-maker. And, more importantly, he has the time and opportunity to do everything. He lives with his aunt, who, although she tries to keep him strict, is not very good at it. Yes, Tom is punished, but despite this, he lives quite well.
He is smart, resourceful, like almost every child of his age (about 11-12 years old), you just have to remember the story with the fence, when Tom convinced all the children in the area that work is a sacred right and privilege, and not a heavy burden.
This characterization of Tom Sawyer reveals that he is not a very bad person. Further, the personality of the most famous inventor and mischief-maker will be revealed with more and more new facets.
Friendship, love and nobility are not alien to Tom Sawyer
Another virtue of Sawyer - the ability to love and sacrifice - appears before the reader in all its glory when the boy discovers that he loves. For her sake, he even makes a sacrifice: he exposes his body to the blows of the teacher's rods for her misconduct. This is a wonderful characteristic of Tom Sawyer, which highlights his sublime attitude towards the lady of his heart.
Tom Sawyer has a conscience. He and Huck witnessed a murder, and even despite the not at all illusory danger to their lives, the boys decided to help the police and rescue poor Muff Potter from prison. The act on their part is not only noble, but also courageous.
Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn as a confrontation between the world of childhood and the world of adulthood
Why is Tom like this? Because he's doing relatively well. Tom, although difficult, is a beloved child, and he knows it. Therefore, almost all the time he lives in the world of childhood, in the world of dreams and fantasies, only occasionally looking into reality. The characteristics of Tom Sawyer in this sense are no different from those of any other prosperous teenager. Such a conclusion can be made only if we correlate the two images - For Sawyer, fantasy is like the air he breathes. Tom is full of hope. There is almost no disappointment in him, so he believes in made-up worlds and made-up people.
Huck is completely different. He has a lot of problems, no parents. Or rather, there is an alcoholic father, but it would be better not to have him. For Huck, his father is a source of constant worry. His parent, of course, disappeared several years ago, but it is known for certain that he did not die, which means that he can appear in the city at any moment and begin to abuse his miserable son again.
For Huck, fantasies are opium, thanks to which life is still somehow bearable, but an adult cannot live in a world of illusions all the time (and Finn is exactly like that).
Sawyer is even a little sorry because he doesn’t know how things really are. His world manages without tragedy, while Huck's existence is a constant struggle. Just like an ordinary adult: he leaves the world of childhood and realizes that he has been deceived. Thus, another characterization of Tom Sawyer is ready.
What kind of adult would Tom be?
A tempting question for all those who have read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. But it seems that it is not for nothing that the story about the boys does not say anything about their adult lives. There may be at least two reasons for this: either there will be nothing remarkable in these lives, or for some, life will not present any pleasant surprises. And all this can happen.
What will Tom Sawyer be like? The characterization could be like this: in the future he is an ordinary, ordinary person without any special achievements in life. His childhood is full of various adventures, but by and large they always happened in some comfort zone, and this allowed Tom to constantly fabricate fantasies.
With Huck it's a different story. At the end of the adventures, Finn leaves the bourgeois world, where satiety and morality reign, into the world of the streets, where freedom reigns, in his opinion. The tramp boy does not tolerate boundaries. But it is impossible to live forever outside the framework and breathe only the air of freedom, because any life needs one form or another. If a separate vessel (person) is not limited, it will break out, destroying the vessel itself. Simply put, if Huck does not choose a certain value system for himself, he may well become an alcoholic and die under the fence, like his dad, or perish in a drunken brawl. Adult life is not as bright as the life of a child, which is a pity.
On this not very happy note, Tom Sawyer says goodbye to us. The characterization of the hero ends here.
Mark Twain's work "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" describes the adventures of two friends, Tom and Huck. The boys cannot sit still, they are attracted by a thirst for adventure, the main characters of “Adventures” get into various troubles, participate in all the incidents that happen in their town. In the story, the heroes encounter different people, good and bad, but the heroes of the story always come out victorious because they are good friends and always help each other out. The book was published in 1876. Mark Twain's adventure tales teach children what is reasonable, kind, and eternal.
Characteristics of the heroes of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”
Main characters
Tom Sawyer |
A boy raised by his aunt. This is an inveterate tomboy and a prankster who cannot live a minute without pranks. His insatiable curiosity and habit of poking his nose wherever possible constantly leads Tom to all sorts of misadventures. At the same time, he is a noble and fair boy, sympathetic and kind. He is characterized by such qualities as generosity and nobility, generosity and prudence. Just like a true American, he has an entrepreneurial spirit. |
Huckleberry Finn |
Tom's inseparable friend. In "Adventures", the heroes participate in mischief together, help those in need, and fight against evil and injustice. Huck Finn, with his father still alive, grows up as a homeless child. This is a smart and practical boy, accustomed to taking care of himself. We can say that during his short life, he became a wise man, independent and pragmatic. Like all boys, Huck loves various pranks, so he, together with Tom Sawyer, form a single whole. |
Minor characters
Aunt Polly |
Aunt Tom, she is trying her best to raise her nephew to be a worthy man. He is demanding and strict with Tom, but loves him like his own son. A kind and intelligent woman, thanks to her upbringing, the boy grows up responsive and compassionate towards people. From childhood, he accustoms Tom to work, takes care of his education, teaches him honesty and decency. |
Jim |
Negro Jim is considered a true friend for Tom, a faithful and devoted comrade. He is a slave, but Tom’s attitude towards him is no different from his attitude towards free people. Jim is very superstitious and simple-minded, and Tom often takes advantage of this to kindly make fun of him, his jokes are kind and harmless, and if necessary, he is ready to fight for his friend through thick and thin. Jim is a simple and good-natured person, open and honest. He loves and respects “mass Tom” and obeys him unquestioningly. |
Injun Joe |
The most evil and vindictive character in the book. Ruthless and ferocious, Joe keeps the entire neighborhood in fear. This is a notorious scoundrel and a cold-blooded killer, a vile and cruel person. Insidious plans are brewing in his head to kill people who have ever crossed his path. Just like his worthless life, washed with the blood of innocent victims, so is his cruel and painful death. At the end of his life, Injun Joe found himself buried alive in a cave, and died a brutal death, bringing relief to the residents of the town, intimidated by his atrocities. Tom and Huck Finn turned out to be accidental witnesses to a murder committed by an Indian. |
Becky Thatcher |
Belongs to the family of a district judge. Capricious and spoiled, she makes a scandal for Tom after learning that his heart used to belong to another girl. She really likes this spontaneous and daring boy, ready for selfless acts. She worries too much about the damaged book, and is amazed at the courage and nobility of Tom, who takes her blame upon himself. Tom is looking for a way to escape from the cave, sharing food with Becky. Becky is an emotional and impressionable girl who becomes “the lady of his heart” for Tom. |
Sid Sawyer |
Tom's cousin, the complete opposite of him. Capable of petty mean acts, a sneak and an informer. Always happy to put my brother under attack, clean and sleek. A cunning and hypocritical rogue who skillfully knows how to shift his guilt onto Tom’s shoulders. Always tries to denigrate Tom in the eyes of his aunt. A selfish and vindictive character. |
This is a brief description of the characters from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which can be used for a reader's diary.
Work test