Adventures of Tom Sawyer
(Mark Twain)

Tom Sawyer

The novel’s main character, Tom Sawyer has enough mischief in him to constantly get him in trouble, but a strong enough conscience that he knows when to do the right thing. While not much information about his parents is revealed, we do know that his mother is dead and that it was her sister- Aunt Polly- who took Tom and Tom’s half-brother- Sid- in. He dispels Muff Potter’s presumed guilt and manages to find a way out of the caves once lost.

Aunt Polly

Aunt Polly is the ever-worrying guardian of Tom. She worries about his safety, and whether her pity for the boy ends up giving him too much leniency. This results in her emotions ranging from the extremes of sadness, anger and happiness.

Sid

Tom’s half-brother, Sid is the opposite of Tom in that he is ostensibly a good child, but seems to lack the moral character to do some of the braver things Tom does. His presence in the novel diminishes as it goes on, appearing only once again towards the end.

Huckleberry Finn

With an alcoholic father who doesn’t make an appearance in the book, Huck is free to do what he wants and ends up as a sort of scoundrel. He sleeps in hog sheds and steals for food. His freedom is admired by the boys- including Tom-, but it’s that same freedom that makes most of the parents not let their children play with him; Tom is, therefore, one of his best friends. While the town doesn’t think much of him, Huck manages to save Widow Douglas’ life by contacting the Welshman. Being a loner, he doesn’t have any desire for credit or attention like Tom does.

Joe Harper

Joe Harper is one of Tom’s best friends, joining him and Huck on Jackson Island where they spend a few days pretending to be pirates.

Becky Thatcher

The daughter of a judge, Becky is Tom’s infatuation.

Injun Joe

A half-white, half Native American man, Injun Joe’s life as outcast has led him into a life of crime. He kills Dr. Robinson after some old insult and blames the murder on Muff Potter. He runs away when Tom testifies against him in court, but continues to hang around the city in disguise committing crimes and gathering up money to move to Texas. He ends up starving to death in the caves, locked in.

Muff Potter

An indolent drunk, but a harmless one, Muff Potter is convinced by Injun Joe that he committed the murder of Dr. Robinson. He turns himself in though, unable to bear the guilt of his actions. It is Tom’s testimony that frees him.