Summary
Published in 1876, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a beloved coming-of-age novel by Mark Twain. Set in the fictional town of St. Petersburg along the Mississippi River, it follows the mischievous exploits of young Tom Sawyer as he navigates childhood adventures and moral dilemmas in the 1840s American South. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was Twain's first novel, drawing inspiration from his own experiences growing up in Hannibal, Missouri. Along with the author’s masterful blend of humor, social commentary, and nostalgia for boyhood, the novel’s timeless themes of youth, friendship, and personal growth have cemented its place as a classic of American literature.
Plot
In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, the mischievous Tom Sawyer lives with his Aunt Polly in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, Missouri. Tom frequently skips school and gets into trouble. When Aunt Polly punishes him by making him whitewash a fence, Tom cleverly tricks other boys into doing the work for him by pretending it's a privilege. He also pursues Becky Thatcher, a new girl in town, and convinces her to get “engaged” by kissing him.
One night, Tom and his friend Huckleberry Finn witness a murder in the graveyard. The killer, Injun Joe, frames the town drunk Muff Potter for the crime. Afraid of Injun Joe's revenge, Tom and Huck swear an oath not to tell anyone what they saw. Tom, Huck, and their friend Joe Harper then run away to an island to become “pirates,” causing the town to believe they have drowned. The boys secretly attend their own funeral before dramatically revealing themselves alive, to everyone's shock.
At Muff Potter's trial, Tom's conscience gets the better of him, and he testifies against Injun Joe, who escapes. Tom and Huck live in fear of Injun Joe's return. Later, on a class picnic to a cave, Tom and Becky get lost and wander for days. They nearly starve before Tom finds a way out. Meanwhile, Huck overhears Injun Joe plotting to attack the Widow Douglas and manages to stop the crime without revealing his involvement.
Tom encounters Injun Joe in the cave but isn't spotted. When Judge Thatcher seals the cave entrance days later, Tom realizes Injun Joe is trapped inside. A search party finds Injun Joe dead. In a secret trip back to the cave, Tom and Huck discover Injun Joe's hidden treasure of gold. As the novel ends, the Widow Douglas adopts Huck, though the young man finds it difficult to adjust to living a civilized life.
Themes
Coming of age and loss of innocence
Freedom versus responsibility
The conflict between social morality and individual conscience
Superstition and folk beliefs
The romanticism and adventure of childhood
Friendship and loyalty
Social class and race relations in the antebellum South
Setting
Mark Twain's classic novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is set in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, Missouri, in the 1840s. The town is based on Twain's own boyhood home of Hannibal, located along the Mississippi River. St. Petersburg is depicted as a quintessential small Midwestern town of the era, with a close-knit community where Christianity is the predominant faith and everyone knows their neighbors.
The broader setting encompasses the Mississippi River and surrounding wilderness areas that play a key role in Tom's adventures. Landmarks like Jackson's Island in the river and McDougal's Cave outside town provide atmospheric backdrops for pivotal scenes. The untamed natural environment contrasts with the more structured life in town, allowing Tom and his friends to escape into a world of freedom and imagination.
Twain vividly evokes the culture and attitudes of the antebellum South through his portrayal of St. Petersburg. Social hierarchies, racial dynamics, superstitions, and small-town customs are woven throughout the story. The novel's setting in this specific time and place allows Twain to offer social commentary on issues like slavery while nostalgically depicting the simple pleasures and misadventures of boyhood in mid-19th century America.
Characters
Tom Sawyer: The mischievous and adventurous protagonist. A clever and charismatic boy, Tom often skips school and gets into trouble, but he is also brave and kindhearted. He lives with his Aunt Polly in the town of St. Petersburg, Missouri. Throughout the novel, Tom experiences many adventures and learns important life lessons.
Huckleberry Finn: Tom's best friend and fellow adventurer. Huck is the town outcast, living a carefree life without parental supervision. He is more worldly and practical than Tom, often serving as a voice of reason. Huck plays a crucial role in several key events in the novel.
Becky Thatcher: Tom's love interest and the judge's daughter. Becky is new to town and becomes the object of Tom's affections. She is sweet and proper but also shows courage during their cave adventure. Her relationship with Tom is central to much of the story's drama.
Aunt Polly: Tom's guardian and mother figure. Aunt Polly is a kindhearted woman who struggles to discipline Tom. She often wavers between exasperation over his antics and deep affection for him.
Injun Joe: The primary antagonist of the novel. Injun Joe is a violent and vengeful criminal who commits murder and seeks to harm others. His presence creates much of the danger and suspense in the story.
Sid Sawyer: Tom's half-brother. Sid is well-behaved and often tattles on Tom, serving as a foil to highlight Tom's mischievous nature.
Mary: Tom's cousin who lives with him and Aunt Polly. She is kind and motherly towards Tom.
Muff Potter: A harmless drunk who is framed for Dr. Robinson's murder. Tom's testimony at his trial is a pivotal moment in the story.
Judge Thatcher: Becky's father and a respected member of the community. He plays a role in several important events in the novel.
Widow Douglas: A kind woman who takes in Huck Finn at the end of the novel. She represents civilization and attempts to “reform” Huck.
Quick facts
Mark Twain based the character of Tom Sawyer on three boys he knew growing up, including himself.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was one of the first novels to be written on a typewriter.
Twain named his titular character after a San Francisco firefighter he befriended in 1863.
The town of St. Petersburg in the book is based on Twain's hometown of Hannibal, Missouri.
Twain originally envisioned Tom’s story as a play before deciding to write the novel.
Though initially a commercial failure, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer later became Twain's bestselling work during his lifetime.
The famous whitewashing scene was inspired by a chore Twain hated doing as a child.
Twain wrote much of the novel at Quarry Farm in Elmira, New York.
The character of Huckleberry Finn was based on Twain's childhood friend Tom Blankenship.
Among numerous screen adaptations is the 1938 Technicolor film starring Tommy Kelly, featuring a memorable cave sequence designed by William Cameron Menzies.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer has never been out of print since it was first published in 1876.
About the Author
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was one of America's most beloved authors and humorists. Born in Florida, Missouri, in 1835, Twain grew up along the Mississippi River, which would serve as inspiration for some of his most famous works. After working as a printer and riverboat pilot in his youth, Twain found success as a writer, lecturer, and satirist in the late 19th century. His novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are considered classics of American literature.
Twain was renowned for his wit, social criticism, and mastery of American vernacular. He gained international fame for his travel books like The Innocents Abroad and his lectures, which took him around the world. As he aged, Twain's views became increasingly radical. Though he had supported American imperialism earlier in his life, by 1899 he was a vocal critic of US foreign policy and joined the Anti-Imperialist League. Twain was also an outspoken supporter of abolition, women's suffrage, and labor unions. His political and social commentary often employed biting satire to critique what he saw as injustice and hypocrisy in American society.
Twain's relationship with religion was complex. Though raised as a Presbyterian, he became increasingly critical of organized religion later in life. Some of his most controversial writings on faith were published posthumously, including Letters from the Earth. Twain predicted he would die when Halley's Comet next passed by Earth, just as he had been born during its previous appearance. True to his prophecy, Twain died on April 21, 1910, one day after the comet's closest approach. His wit, insight, and distinctly American voice have ensured his place as one of the country's most influential writers.
