Sir Philip Sidney once said that the meaning of creative writing is “to teach and delight.

In his eyes, literature should be entertaining while also teaching the readers something new. For

many authors it’s important that readers are not only amused by what they’re reading, but they

also learn valuable life lessons that will relate to life in the “real world.” Mark Twain does an

excellent job of this and his works support exactly what Sidney is claiming. Mark Twain’s novel,

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer entertains readers through an amusing storyline, plot, and

characters, while also providing readers with valuable life lessons about friendship and kindness.

Through many of Twain’s novels, his goal was to remind adult readers of their childhood,

provide a break from the stresses of life, and transport them to a completely new world. When

describing the character of Aunt Polly, Twain writes, “She seldom or never looked through them

(her glasses) for so small a thing as a boy; they were her state pair, the pride of her heart, and

were built for “style,” not service — she could have seen through a pair of stove lids just as well”

(Twain 1). Here Twain is providing us with a funny and vivid description of Aunt Polly, because

he wants his readers to be able to vividly picture his characters. This helps readers to feel more

connected to the story, and therefore more entertained. Another way Twain keeps his readers

entertained is through his dialogue of the characters. For example, when Tom and Becky are

discussing their “love” for each other, Tom says, “And always after this, you know, you ain’t

ever to love anybody but me, and you ain’t ever to marry anybody but me, never never and

forever” (Twain 43). This quote portrays exactly what childhood is like, and the adult readers

could relate to it. Through reading about Tom’s crazy antics and “love” for Becky, they are

reminded of their childhood, and once again, very entertained. When it comes to captivating the

audience, Twain’s novels do not disappoint.

 While being amused by a book is a good thing, it’s also important that the books have

good morals and life lessons. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer includes many valuable lessons

about friendship and kindness. Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer are best friends, as shown

when Tom says, “All right, Huck, it’s a whiz! Come along, old chap, and I’ll ask the widow to let

up on you a little, Huck” (Twain 183). When Huckleberry is convinced he wants to run away

because the widow wants him to be civilized, Tom does everything he can to try and make Huck

stay. Young (and even adult) readers can truly benefit and learn from the two boys’ friendship.

They learn to value their friends, stay loyal to them, and help them whenever possible. Tom

Sawyer definitely grows and matures throughout the book, one of the most mature and kind

things we see Tom do is when he takes the blame for something Becky did, even though he was

mad at her. The book says, “…and when he stepped forward to go to his punishment the surprise,

the gratitude, the adoration that shone upon him out of poor Becky’s eyes seemed pay enough for

a hundred floggings” (Twain 109). From this encounter, readers learn that it’s important to stick

up for your friends and that being kind is much better than holding grudges. Tom Sawyer acts as

a role model for young kids, and although he is mischievous he is also compassionate and very

loyal. Ultimately, the takeaways of novels should be the practical lessons readers can use in

everyday life, and Twain’s novels are rich with good principles and morals.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a very multi-faceted novel. It contains elements of fun

through Tom’s tricks, games, and adventures, while also embedding Twain’s pieces of wisdom

for life. Friendship and kindness are morals the story is built upon, creating a wonderful

influence for the young readers. Adult readers are entertained by being reminded of their

childhood, and are able to enter a world of their past while reading this novel. Through all of

this, Twain has created a work of literature that is both fun and practical at the same time.