The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Character Analysis

Tom Sawyer

The novel's hero, Tom is a badly behaved orphan with an attention-getting streak and a heart of gold. He's a clever trickster, leading the boys of the village in various adventures, and a dreamer with… read analysis of Tom Sawyer

Huckleberry Finn

As the son of the town drunkard, Huck is virtually orphaned. He's looked down upon by the adults of St. Petersburg, but is deeply admired by the local boys for living as he wants to—not… read analysis of Huckleberry Finn

Becky Thatcher

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… read analysis of Becky Thatcher

Injun Joe

The novel's villain. Injun Joe is an anti-social adult, motivated by revenge and ruthless in exacting it. He brings both realism and romanticism to the novel. On the one hand his behavior forces Tom and… read analysis of Injun Joe

Joe Harper

Tom's best friend aside from Huck. He runs away with them to the island after Tom finds him upset one day at having been wrongfully accused by his mother of having stolen cream. As a… read analysis of Joe Harper

Judge Thatcher

Becky's father and the county Judge, who is based in Constantinople. He is the most revered figure in St. Petersburg. He takes a fondness to Tom after he leads Becky out of the cave… read analysis of Judge Thatcher

Alfred Temple

Tom's classroom nemesis, Alfred is a refined, slightly effeminate new boy in town, who runs home from fighting with Tom to his mother's protection. His spiteful nature is revealed when, after Becky flirts with him… read analysis of Alfred Temple

The Welshman

Also known as Mr. Jones, he lives with his sons near the widow Douglas, and Huck turns to him to save the widow from Injun Joe's revenge. Though the Welshman is a capable hunter… read analysis of The Welshman

Mr. Dobbins

The local teacher. Mr. Dobbins is a pompous disciplinarian with a vindictive nature. As a youth he dreamed of becoming a doctor, and keeps an anatomy book hidden in his desk. On Examination day, just… read analysis of Mr. Dobbins

Mr. Walters

The superintendent of the Sunday school. Despite being a religious man, he is prone to vanity, and rewards Tom a Bible he hasn't rightfully earned for the sake of looking good in front of Judge… read analysis of Mr. Walters

Dr. Robinson

A compatriot of Injun Joe and Muff Potter. After he argues with the two of them and knocks out Muff Potter, Injun Joe stabs and kills Dr. Robinson and then frames the knocked-out Muff… read analysis of Dr. Robinson

Minor Characters

Aunt Polly

Tom's strict but warm-hearted caretaker. A spinster, Aunt Polly dotes on Tom like a mother, sparing him her harshest punishments more often than not. Tom repeatedly outwits her, yet she has the compassion to forgive him repeatedly, desiring that he love her like a mother.

Sid

Tom's younger brother, Sid is mean-spirited and ungenerous towards Tom but is generally successful at brown-nosing his elders.

Cousin Mary

Older than Tom and Sid, she also lives at Aunt Polly's house, and is perfectly behaved and kind throughout.

Ben Rogers

Tom's friend, and the first one he convinces to paint Aunt Polly's fence.

Amy Lawrence

Tom's girlfriend before Becky.

Dr. Robinson

A grave robber along with Injun Joe and Muff Potter. Because the doctor snubbed him while begging years ago, Injun Joe suddenly murders him.

Muff Potter

The simple, drunk friend of Injun Joe who accompanies him to the graveyard only to be framed as Dr. Robinson's murderer. His sweet nature and gratitude to Tom and Huck for delivering presents to his jail cell eventually breaks down Tom's resolve to keep mum about Injun Joe's guilt.

The Stranger

Injun Joe's companion in the haunted house when they find the treasure. His body turns up drowned in the river after the Welshman chases them off the widow Douglas's property.

The widow Douglas

A wealthy, generous older woman who eventually takes Huck in after he saves her life by revealing Injun Joe's plan to get revenge on her for her deceased husband's having whipped him for vagrancy. As his guardian at the novel's end, she tries to civilize Huck.

Mrs. Sereny Harper

Joe Harper's mother, who mourns with Aunt Polly, Mary, and Sid when Tom, Joe, and Huck are thought to have drowned.

The sign-painters boy

His family boards Mr. Dobbins. For the schoolchildren's Examination day revenge, he paints the teacher's head gold in his sleep.

Mr. Sprague

The local reverend.

Jim

Aunt Polly's slave.

Lawyer Thatcher

The brother of Judge Thatcher.

Sheriff

The town sheriff.

Mrs. Thatcher

The wife of Judge Thatcher and the mother of Becky Thatcher.

Mrs. Harper

Joe Harper's mother.

Uncle Jake

A slave belonging to Ben Roger's family.

Susy Harper

Joe Harper's sister.

The minister

The church minister who gives the eulogy for Tom, Huck, and Joe when the town believes the boys are dead. The minister's speech paints the boys in such a positive light that all the townspeople feel they misjudged the boys when they were alive.

The sign-painter's boy

The son of the town sign-painter. Mr. Dobbins rents a room from his family. He helps Tom and the other boys pull a prank by painting Mr. Dobbins' bald head gold while Dobbins is asleep.