While Tom sat eating, his Aunt Polly asked questions. She hoped to learn about his afternoon.
―Tom, was it warm in school?‖ ―Yes, Aunt Polly.‖
―Did you wish to go swimming, Tom?‖ Tom began to feel afraid. What did she know about his afternoon? ―No,
Aunt Po lly. Not very much.‖
She touched his shirt. It was dry. But Tom knew what she would touch next. He said quickly, ―Some of us put water on our heads because we
were hot. My hair is not dry yet.‖ He watched her face. Yes, she believed him. He was safe.
And Aunt Polly was glad to believe that he had been good. p.10
In the whitewashing scene, after successfully tricking his friends to do his punishment, Tom runs to Aunt Polly and tells her that he has done his job without
mentioning his friends‘ participation. Tom went to report to aunty Polly. She was sitting beside an open window.
She was half asleep, and she was holding the sleeping cat. She was surprised to see Tom. She thought that he had run away from his work
long ago. Tom said, ―May I go and play now, Aunt?‖
―Already? How much have you done?‖ ―It is all done, Aunt‖ p. 16
The preceding findings give a clear statement that one of Tom Sawyer‘s characteristics is dishonest. He behaves in an untrustworthy way, intended to
cheat people around him to get what he wants. 4.1.3. Lazy
Another Tom Sawyer‘s characteristic is lazy. In the novel, there are two scenes which show this characteristic; white-washing scene and church
preparation scene. Tom Sawyer hates working on Saturday. Once, Aunt Polly states about how Tom hates working Murphy, 1972, p. 162. ―He does not like
work. Especially on Saturday, when there is no school, he does not like work‖ p.
10. Moreover, Twain describes Tom‘s dislike on working by comparing the nice weather and Tom‘s current feeling Murphy, 1972, p. 170.
Saturday morning came. All the summer world was bright and fress and full of life.
Tom appeared in front of the house with paint and a big brush. He looked at the fence, and all joy left him. A deep sadness settled upon his heart p.
12.
Still, this is a punishment for him that he must do. He does his job, but after a while, he starts to nag and wants to give up Murphy, 1972, p. 164. ―He looked
at what he had done. The painted was very large. He sat down. He felt that he could not continue‖ p. 13. His act of laziness goes along with McKean 2005
who defines lazy as unwilling to work or use energy, characterized by lack of effort or activity; showing a lack of effort or care.
People dress well to go to the church every Sunday. While his aunt, brother, and cousin are wearing nice clothes, Tom seems have no interest to wear
stuff like that. He even hopes not to wear any shoes to go to the church. Moreover, he needs his cousin, Mary, to dress him up. ―Then Mary helped him to
dress in his Sunday clothes. He hoped that she would forget his shoes. But she did not‖ p. 19. Seeing from the preceding findings, it can be concluded that Tom
Sawyer is a lazy boy. He has no willingness to use his energy and no effort to do his duty.
4.2. How the Friendship between Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn
Influences T om’s Personality Development
By reading the story, we can see there are so many scenes which Mark Twain tells the reader about the friendship of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Some of them show us how the friendship between them influences Tom Sawyer‘s personality development. It goes along with Beebe, et al. 1996 who
state that friends help us in development of our personality p. 413. In this part, the writer explains how the friendship between Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry
Finn influences Tom‘s personality development in Mark Twain‘s The Adventure of Tom Sawyer. There are three characteristics of Tom Sawyer which gain through
the friendship; mature, caring, and brave. 4.2.1. Mature
Tom Sawyer ‘s personality development is gained through two experiences;
finding the treasure scene, and taking Huckleberry back scene. In the beginning of the story, Tom was described as a cunning boy. He often tricked his aunt and
friends, stole foods, and got absent from school. After being friends with Huckleberry, Tom shows his development for being mature. McKean 2005
defines mature as having reached an advanced stage of mental or emotional development characteristic of an adult, careful and thorough of thought or
planning. Tom, who used to be dependent on his aunt, has to make a plan and
decision in order to find Indian Joe‘s treasure. Huckleberry, who also knows this
secret, asks Tom the plan they are going to do. As a leader, he tells Huckleberry the plan they are going to do.
―I think you are right, Tom. Now what will you do?‖ ―Let me think.‖
Tom thought a long time. Then he said: ―I will tell you. The door of Number Two opens on a little street at the
back of the house. We must wait for a dark night. Then we shall try to get
in. But if you see Indian Joe, follow him. And if he does not go to that Nu
mber Two, it can‘t be the place.‖ p. 93 Tom does not only improve his maturity in his thought, but also in his
action. It is proved in the scene below: ―I am afraid to follow him alone, Tom‖
―It will be night. If I see him, and if it is dark, I will follow him, I promise. He might be going straight to that money. You must not
weaken, Huck, and I won‘t.‖ p. 94 This scene also shows that Tom and Huckleberry are close friend; Tom puts
Huckleberry‘s concern above his personal concern. Tom wants to help ease Huckleberry‘s burden Beebe, et al., 1996. Therefore, he gains his maturity in his
act. Tom often made a trouble and it left bad things on him. Being friend with
Huckleberry helps him to show that he can solve problems too. Once, Huckleberry runs away from Mrs. Douglas
‘ home due to his uncomfort to stay there. Huckleberry tells Tom about his problem and Tom shows that his problem
is not as bad as he thought. ―Like it Yes, I will like it as I would like a burning coal if I sat on it. No,
Tom, I won‘t be rich, and I won‘t live in a house. I like the forest, and the river, and a place like this for sleeping. But now we are rich and all our
games like being pirates are destroyed.‖ ―Listen, Huck. Being rich won‘t change that.‖
―Is that true, Tom?‖ ―It is true. But if you want to join me and the other boys, and belong to my
club, you must live like us.‖ ―Tom, is that friendly?‖
―I want you to join us, Huck. But all the boys who join Tom Sawyer‘s Club must have good characters.‖
Huck was quiet. There was a battle in his mind. After a while he said, ―I will return to Mrs. Douglas for a month. I will try, if you will let me belong
to Tom Sawyer‘s Club‖ p. 118
From preceding evidences, it shows that Tom Sawyer gains his maturity by fulfiling Huckleberry‘s third social need that make us initiate and sustain
friendship with others; the need for affection. ―We all need to give and receive love, support, warmth, and intimacy‖ Beebe, et al., 1996. This evidence also
shows that Tom gives profound influence on Huckleberry‘s behavior. He supports Huckleberry cope with uncertainty. Tom helps Huckleberry to shape his
attitudes and beliefs toward living well in the society Beebe, et al., 1996, p. 413. 4.2.2. Caring
Tom used to be lack of care; he is unwilling to work, characterized by lack of effort or creativity. Through the friendship with Huckleberry, he starts to gain
his caring for others. This development can be seen through two scenes; going to the graveyard scene and going home scene. The day when Tom and Huckleberry
go to the graveyard, both of them go there bravely. Right after arriving there, the sounds come and they start to get afraid. Huckleberry, the one who has a plan
even gets afraid more than Tom. Surprisingly, Tom shows up his caring traits to Huckleberry to calm his worry.
The two held each other with fast-beating hearts. ―Tom, they are coming What shall we do?‖
―I do not know. Will they see us?‖ ―Tom, they can see in the dark, like cats. I wish I had not come.‖
―Oh, do not be afraid. We are doing nothing. If we are completely quiet, perhaps they won‘t see us‖ p. 38
This action goes along with McKean 2005 who defines caring as displaying kindness and concern for others; the work or practice of looking after
those unable to care for themselves, especially the sick and the elderly. Tom Sawyer shows his concern for Huckleberry who is unable to care for himself. The
life they experience on Jackson‘s Island influences Tom Sawyer to care about
others‘ feeling. It can be seen at the scene where the pirates group are home and nobody seems care about Huck. Tom spontaneously complains to Aunt Polly
about it. Aunt Polly, Mary, and the Harpers put their arms around Tom and Joe.
Huck stood alone, not knowing what to do. He started to move away, but Tom stopped him and said:
―Aunt Polly, this is not right. Some person must be glad to see Huck
‖ p. 65 Unders
tanding her nephew‘s problem, Aunt Polly does the thing to make Tom feel better. She states her happiness for having Huckleberry back, too.
―And some person shall be. I am glad to see him, dear boy‖ She put her arms around
him also. And now Huc k felt more strange than before‖ p.65. From the
preceding scenes, it shows that Tom Sawyer gains his caring for others. This development also shows that Tom Sawyer is a round character. His
development proves that he is not flat which is introduced from the beginning until the end of the story in the constant condition. Otherwise, he is complex in
temperament and motivation. Tom Sawyer who lacked of care gains his caring to others since Tom met Huckleberry.
4.2.3. Brave Tom was coward for hiding the truth about the death of Doctor Robinson.
He was afraid, but in the same time, he put Muff Potter‘s life on risk. Huckleberry and Tom always came to the court to get the updatest news about Muff Potter.
Even though it has to break his promise with Huckleberry, in the end, Tom bravely reveals the truth in front of people in the court. ―Now he came to the end.
