Tom Sawyers wild imagination

Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
January 25, 2008
Journal #11 Mark Twain


Quote:
"He said there was loads of them there, anyway; and he said there was A-rabs there, too, and elephants and things. I said, why couldn't we seen them, then? He said if I warn't so ignorant, but had read a book called "Don Quixote," I would know without asking"(Twain 116).


Summary:
Tom sawyer is criticizing Huck Finn for not reading Don Quixote. As the reader we see where Tom Sawyer's adventurous thoughts come from.


Response:
The genius behind Mark Twain is his ability to write a book that is both for adults and for children. Many scholars argue over who Huck Finn was written for. I would like to think that Twain intended the book to be read by both adults and children. The book appeals to children because of the adventures that Huck Finn and Jim go on. While at the same time appealing to adults because they can read deeper into the words and see the maturation of Huck Finn. I can also see why this book was banned by so many school systems. It shows apologetically a runaway kid who smokes, steals and lives on the streets. I'm not sure a parent, especially of a young boy, would want there child reading this. Although if I had a little bot I wouldn't mind because I know that boys have there adventurous fantasies and reading this caliber of book would just help them to become a more creative and active child. As I said before the book also appeals to an older audience because of the deep themes that pop up in the great story. Just as Scott mentioned he read "Huckleberry Finn", as a kid and later an adult. I'm sure that both times he got to completely different interpretations of the story as well. I'm really impressed by the range and depth that Mark Twain has shown me as a reader. He can go from writing something serious and thought provoking to humorous in a split second. While maintaining the integrity of the story.