Previous
Chapter 35
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Boyhood Rebellion and Growing Up
The Hypocrisy of Adult Society
Superstition, Fantasy, and Escape
Showing Off
Sentimentality and Realism
Summary
Analysis
Twain explains that the book must end here, for soon it will be the story of a man rather than a boy. If it were a book about adults, it would have to end with a marriage.
Twain's reluctance to continue the story to describe the boys' adult lives offers a bittersweet note. It is imperative for boys to grow up into men who comprehend their responsibilities in the world, but their lives will be less fun to describe.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
Twain explains that his characters are still alive and doing well. He says that he won't reveal any more details about their lives at present, but he might want to write about them again some day.
Twain sets up the possibility of a sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
