Maturity In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer

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How Life Experiences Can Shape the Maturity of a Child “Learning lessons is a little like reaching maturity. You're not suddenly more happy, wealthy, or powerful, but you understand the world around you better, and you're at peace with yourself. Learning life's lessons is not about making your life perfect, but about seeing life as it was meant to be,” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. This quote applies to the life of Tom Sawyer and his experiences exceedingly well. One of the themes that Mark Twain explores in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is children finding their maturity through life experiences. Three examples that support this theme are when Tom decides to testify in court, despite a target being put on his back afterwards, when he is stranded …show more content…

When Tom and Becky become lost in McDougal's Cave, Tom spots Injun Joe, and knowing that this news will scare Becky, he decides that it would be best to not tell her. When he returns to where they camped out, “... he was careful to keep from Becky what it was he had seen,” (page 184). Tom’s refusal to let Becky know what he saw in the cave demonstrates perfectly how Tom has grown to feel empathy and relate to the feelings of others. Tom has learned to recognize the emotions and feelings of others, as well as how to protect these through his experience in the cave and seeing the girl he cares for emotionally traumatized. He knows that Becky has been through enough by becoming lost in the cave and that he should not increase her anxiety level by telling her that they are trapped in a cave with a notorious murderer. He could have done it for his own good, as her reaction could create an unneeded annoyance, and that could have been part of the reason for his actions, but the true reason he did not tell Becky of Injun Joe’s presence was so that she could feel as little anxiety as possible. Tom’s actions in the cave regarding Injun Joe reflect on the maturity he has gained through his experiences, particularly through his dilemma in the

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