How Did Tom Sawyer Mature

The story of Tom Sawyer’s venturesome youth combines tales of boyhood explorations that range from harmless exploits to dangerous and courageous ventures. As Tom’s escapades unravel, he makes decisions that indicate his development is teetering on the cusp of youth and maturity. There are several momentous incidents that display Tom’s internal battles and mark his maturing actions. Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, depicts Tom’s steps toward moral and social maturation as his boyhood desires showcase his weaknesses and portray him rebelling against rules and authority but ultimately lead him to making significantly mature decisions.
Tom’s love interest, Becky Thatcher, had accidently torn a page in a book belonging to the
They had witnessed Injun Joe kill Doctor Robinson, however, Muff Potter was blamed for the murder. Of course, Tom was placed in this situation because he had not respected the rules and authority of his Aunt Polly’s house, as Tom left his house in the middle of the night to go to the graveyard with his friend for childish quests. This is an instance where Tom was acting as a boy, but made a decision the mature decision to do the right thing and tell the truth. He had battled with his desire to keep his pact with Huck and to do the right thing for Muff Potter. His testimony saved Muff Potter from certain death. Hamlin Hill reviewed Twain’s manuscript and notes and indicated that the story was crafted to display Tom’s growth as “Twain very deliberately shifted his chapters so the climactic chapters were placed after childish and immature incidents”
Using a tactic that adults usually deploy on children, Tom coaxed Huck into being “respectable” and staying with the Widow so that he could be a part of his gang. Tom’s struggle at this point was purely selfless, as he knew what was best for Huck and he had to ensure that Huck received it. Tom actually put his friendship on the line in order to ensure th well-being of Huck. Walter Blair explains the growth “On the Structure of Tom Sawyer” that “…these narrative strands…are climaxed by a characteristic and mature sort of action, a sort of action, moreover, directly opposed to the initial action”