Becky Thatcher Character Analysis in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Tom develops a crush on Becky as the new blond in town, and the novel charts the development of their relationship into a mature affection for one another after much tit-for-tat pettiness. As the daughter of Judge Thatcher, Becky is a privileged girl, prissy and slightly spoiled—a worthy challenger to Tom when it comes to conniving to get her way.

Becky Thatcher Quotes in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The The Adventures of Tom Sawyer quotes below are all either spoken by Becky Thatcher or refer to Becky Thatcher. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Boyhood Rebellion and Growing Up Theme Icon

Tom stood a moment, to gather his dismembered faculties; 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.

Related Characters: Tom Sawyer, Becky Thatcher

Page Number and Citation: 140

Explanation and Analysis:

Becky Thatcher Character Timeline in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The timeline below shows where the character Becky Thatcher appears in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

When the students are let off at noon, Tom arranges with Becky to meet back at the school room. There they flirt further, and after Tom helps... (full context)

...grief is worsened when he finds his brass andiron knob on his desk, returned by Becky. (full context)

Tom's preoccupation with the murder is replaced by worry about Becky's absence from school. When he learns she's ill, he fears she'll die. (full context)

The Hypocrisy of Adult Society Theme Icon

...boys, each one of them trying to tell the story that captures the boys best. Becky regrets that she returned the brass andiron that Tom had given to her. On Sunday,... (full context)

Tom, now happy, walks back to school. On the way, he runs into Becky and apologizes for his behavior to her earlier. But she refuses to speak to him... (full context)

He also misses Becky, who is with her parents in Constantinople. (full context)

Tom is delighted on Friday morning to learn that Becky has returned to town. That same day they get together with their friends and play,... (full context)

...to Saturday afternoon in order to tell the story of what happened to Tom and Becky. They're playing in the cave along with their friends. They split off to explore a... (full context)

By Tuesday the villagers are mourning Tom and Becky. But by nightfall there is jubilation, because the children are found. (full context)

Judge Thatcher thinks highly of Tom for having rescued Becky from the cave. Becky has even told him about how Tom took her punishment at... (full context)