Maturity In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer

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“Maturity is the ability to think, speak and act your feelings within the bounds of dignity. The measure of your maturity is how spiritual you become during the midst of your frustrations,” according to Samuel Ullman. In one of Mark Twain’s most well-known classics, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, the child protagonist often faces many intriguing dilemmas. Towards the beginning of the beloved novel, young Tom faces many mishaps that could easily have been resolved with a flick of the old maturity stick. However, Tom, a young orphan who is being raised by his elderly aunt, does not hold the mental capabilities to resolve problems efficiently. Nevertheless, in the latter sections of the story, the reader may often find that the formerly-infantile …show more content…
He becomes very efficient, thoughtful and begins to be able to comfort someone in a compromising position. On page 185, the narrator tells: “At last Becky’s frail limbs refused to carry her farther. She sat down. Tom rested with her, and they talked of home, and their friends there, and the comfortable beds, and above all, the light! Becky cried, and Tom tried to think of some way of comforting her, but all his encouragements were grown threadbare with use, and sounded like sarcasms. Fatigue bore so heavily upon Becky that she drowsed off to sleep. Tom was grateful. He sat looking into her drawn face and saw it grow smooth and natural under the influence of pleasant dreams; and by-and-by a smile dawned and rested there. The peaceful face reflected somewhat of peace and healing into his own spirit, and his thoughts wandered away to bygone time and dreamy memories.” During this particular segment of the book, Tom and his lady friend Becky are lost deep within McDougal’s cave, and soon begin to tire, starve, thirst, and lose hope. Rather than greet their imminent demise, Tom tries to comfort Becky with sweet nothings of their cozy homes. Any mature boy would step down a level to reassure a loved one of the situation, almost identical to the deeds Tom commits. So, by helping Becky (and himself) in the cave, Tom demonstrates genuine …show more content…
2!"
"What!" Huck searched his comrade's face keenly. "Tom, have you got on the track of that money again?"
"Huck, it's in the cave!"
Huck's eyes blazed.
"Say it again, Tom."
"The money's in the cave!"
"Tom—honest injun, now—is it fun, or earnest?"
"Earnest, Huck—just as earnest as ever I was in my life. Will you go in there with me and help get it out?"
"I bet I will! I will if it's where we can blaze our way to it and not get lost."
"Huck, we can do that without the least little bit of trouble in the world."
"Good as wheat! What makes you think the money's—"
"Huck, you just wait till we get in there. If we don't find it I'll agree to give you my drum and everything I've got in the world. I will, by jings."
"All right—it's a whiz. When do you say?"
"Right now, if you say it. Are you strong enough?"
"Is it far in the cave? I been on my pins a little, three or four days, now, but I can't walk more'n a mile, Tom—least I don't think I
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