In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain uses his characters’ language, as well as the topics in which they converse on, to add entertainment value and dimension to Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Through his use of language, Twain creates two characters that become archetypes of the “all-American boy”. These archetypes hold a strong interest in Twain’s young American population and makes his novel entertaining to those interested in the adventurous, roughhousing, genuinely pure ideal of an American individual. Most literary critics believe Tom Sawyer has earned a rightful place in the American literary canon. This would have not occurred if not for Tom and Huck’s language. How the characters speak and what they speak about is how Twain
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To many young American children this is an ideal lifestyle. To those in awe of this lifestyle Tom is inspiring and fearless. However, Twain never attaches these traits to Tom explicitly. In fact, rarely does Twain tell his readers what to think about Tom. It is through Tom’s own speech that the readers get a taste of who he is and what he represents. The same goes for Huck, though on a more of a melancholy note. Through many of Huck’s quotes the reader understands that Huck is a relatively content individual who at times feels awkward and sad about his place as an outcast in the village. While this is never explicitly stated, evidence of this is prevalent throughout the underlying tones of the story. When Joe, Tom, and Huck reveal themselves their own funerals, “Aunt Polly, Mary and the Harpers threw themselves upon their restored ones, smothered them with kisses and poured out thanksgivings, while poor Huck stood abashed and uncomfortable, not knowing exactly what to do or where to hide from so many unwelcoming eyes. He wavered, and started to slink away” (17.116). Twain’s readers feel upset for Huck. Not only because feeling unwelcomed is an upsetting situation, but because the readers have grown to love Huck for who he is. If Huck was not a vocal character with such a vibrant personality, the readers may not care enough about Huck to dwell on his lack of a
To many young American children this is an ideal lifestyle. To those in awe of this lifestyle Tom is inspiring and fearless. However, Twain never attaches these traits to Tom explicitly. In fact, rarely does Twain tell his readers what to think about Tom. It is through Tom’s own speech that the readers get a taste of who he is and what he represents. The same goes for Huck, though on a more of a melancholy note. Through many of Huck’s quotes the reader understands that Huck is a relatively content individual who at times feels awkward and sad about his place as an outcast in the village. While this is never explicitly stated, evidence of this is prevalent throughout the underlying tones of the story. When Joe, Tom, and Huck reveal themselves their own funerals, “Aunt Polly, Mary and the Harpers threw themselves upon their restored ones, smothered them with kisses and poured out thanksgivings, while poor Huck stood abashed and uncomfortable, not knowing exactly what to do or where to hide from so many unwelcoming eyes. He wavered, and started to slink away” (17.116). Twain’s readers feel upset for Huck. Not only because feeling unwelcomed is an upsetting situation, but because the readers have grown to love Huck for who he is. If Huck was not a vocal character with such a vibrant personality, the readers may not care enough about Huck to dwell on his lack of a