This paper accompanies the bad boy Tom Sawyer on his journey from boyhood to manhood, regarding the influence authority has on him as the most important factor for his maturation.
Samuel Clemens wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer “mainly for the entertainment of boys and girls” but also “to try pleasantly to remind adults of what they once were them-selves” (Preface). What is the difference between children and adults? – Above all, their degree of maturity. But what is essential for the transition from child to adult, for the maturation? – Essential is to form an own individuality; to be something unique you have to distinguish from everything else. Therefore, we have to leave our own marks in order to become individuals. Every child has to find this “unique own” in adolescence. Not only bad boys need to revolt against and differentiate from authority to become part of the adult world and to constitute their individuality. But what exactly is this ‘authority’, which seems so essential for maturation – and, therefore, for the purpose of this work?
In the broadest sense authority is a representative of the adult world with all its rules, conventions and institutions, which Clemens so harshly and ironically criticizes. For the purpose of this paper, authority means specifically every form of influence the adult world has on Tom as well as every convention which has the ability to govern his actions. Thus, it ranges from the school superintendant and Aunt Polly to bad boy behavior patterns and the temptations of evil.
It does not take the reader long to find out that in the character of Tom Sawyer the force to defy authority is extraordinary strong. The first line in the book is a shouted “TOM!” (I, 7) and of course the shout is not unfounded. Totally in the manner of a bad boy, he is stealing jam and afterwards escapes his aunt’s authority. But not only his disposition to overcome authority, also the occasion to face the evil, the lenience of authority, as well as its absence in determining situations are responsible for Toms maturation. Finally, the whole process of becoming an adult can only be completed by the acceptance of the authority of society. Hence, authority in all its shapes is the key to maturation – also for Tom Sawyer, our freedom loving, seemingly anti-authoritarian and independent hero.
Table of Contents
1. PREFACE
2. TOM’S DISPOSITION TO OVERCOME AUTHORITY
3. THE LENIENCE OF ‘GOOD’ AUTHORITY
4. THE QUANTUM OF ‘EVIL’ AUTHORITY
5. THE ABSENCE OF AUTHORITY
6. THE ACCEPTANCE OF AUTHORITY
7. CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper explores the journey of Tom Sawyer from boyhood to manhood, identifying the influence of authority as the primary catalyst for his maturation. It examines how Tom's rebellious nature interacts with the societal, lenient, and often absent structures of his environment, ultimately arguing that these factors are essential for his transition into the adult world.
- The role of rebellion and defying authority in the formation of individuality.
- The impact of a lenient social environment on the maturation process.
- The function of "evil" as a necessary counterpart for character development.
- The significance of the absence of authority in moments of crucial decision-making.
- The final integration into society as a marker of completed maturation.
Excerpt from the Book
THE ABSENCE OF AUTHORITY
Absence is undisputedly a very strong way of influencing. That the lack of authority is strongly influencing Tom Sawyer’s development will be shown in the following. Authority in this context means especially the institutions of society and their capability to help and protect its children. Therefore, the forms of authority, which were described in the chapter The lenience of ‘good’ authority, are relevant in this chapter – or at least their absence.
An interesting fact is that adventures never take place in the town but always outside the town or at its borders: The important part of the Muff Potter story as well as the beginning of the Injun Joe story happens on the graveyard (IX, 70f.), the continuation of the Injun Joe story takes place at the haunted house and in the cave (XXVII, 162-167; XXXIV). The culmination of the Tom and Becky story occurs in the cave (XXXII-XXXIII) and the whole pirate adventure on Jackson’s Island (XIII-XVIII) is also outside the town. Of course, all of Tom Sawyer’s adventures would be in vain if he were not capable to cope with the demands. If the authority were present in the most crucial moments and could help Tom or solved his problems without his contribution, he would not be in the position to mature due to the adventures. Therefore, it is not surprising that the adventures are taking place outside the town, quasi out of reach of authority.
Summary of Chapters
PREFACE: Introduces the core hypothesis that authority acts as the essential influence guiding Tom Sawyer’s maturation process.
TOM’S DISPOSITION TO OVERCOME AUTHORITY: Analyzes how Tom’s tendency to revolt against rules and conventions functions as the initial driver for his development throughout the narrative.
THE LENIENCE OF ‘GOOD’ AUTHORITY: Discusses how the forgiving nature of St. Petersburg society allows Tom the necessary freedom to explore boundaries without facing catastrophic repercussions.
THE QUANTUM OF ‘EVIL’ AUTHORITY: Examines how the presence of evil, personified by Injun Joe, provides specific challenges that Tom must conquer to advance toward maturity.
THE ABSENCE OF AUTHORITY: Explores how Tom’s adventures outside the social sphere force him to rely on his own agency and conscience, marking critical steps in his growth.
THE ACCEPTANCE OF AUTHORITY: Describes how Tom’s ultimate integration into the adult world and his desire for societal recognition signify the completion of his journey.
CONCLUSION: Synthesizes the arguments to show that Tom’s maturation is a unique result of the specific interplay between his own character and the external environment of St. Petersburg.
Keywords
Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain, Maturation, Authority, Rebellion, St. Petersburg, Adolescence, Individuality, Social Conventions, Injun Joe, Coming of Age, Responsibility, Literary Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how the various forms of authority in Mark Twain's novel influence the transition of the protagonist, Tom Sawyer, from a child into a maturing adolescent.
Which thematic areas are central to the work?
The work centers on the interplay between rebellion and convention, the necessity of personal accountability, and the role of the social environment in shaping individual growth.
What is the primary research objective?
The goal is to determine why and how the "bad boy" Tom Sawyer matures, specifically by analyzing the necessity of his confrontation with authority figures and social expectations.
What scientific approach does the author use?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, drawing upon existing academic criticism—such as Walter Blair’s structural theories—to interpret the narrative arcs of Tom Sawyer.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The body chapters break down the maturation process into specific categories: the disposition to revolt, the lenience of society, the impact of evil, the necessity of solitude, and the final acceptance of the social order.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Key terms include Tom Sawyer, Maturation, Authority, Rebellion, Adolescence, and Coming of Age.
Why is the "absence of authority" considered vital for Tom's growth?
The absence of adult guidance during Tom's adventures forces him to take full responsibility for his decisions, such as his testimony at the trial, which serves as a milestone in his development.
How does the author interpret the conclusion of the novel?
The author argues that Tom’s return to society and his attempt to discourage rebellion in others signify that he has successfully transitioned into the adult world and, ironically, has become an authority figure himself.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Raúl Gaston Krüger (Autor:in), 2009, The Role of Authority in Tom Sawyer's Maturation, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/175795
