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I am in major need of help with how to write an essay on the developing theme. My task is -

This novel has an important theme - a point, idea, or insight that the author wants to reveal to the reader through the plot. Write an essay describing how the author develops the theme of the novel.

I'm not even sure where to start, and I'm not great at writing essays. Can anyone please help me with where to begin and major topics that I should not leave out of my essay? Please, you would be such a great help!

Thanks!

I would say that a good place to start on this is to discuss what you think Twain is saying about society through the novel.  What is it that he is trying to point out society or what is he suggesting that needs to be changed?  Perhaps, you can also talk about what Twain is saying about who we are, as individuals, and what we should do.  These can be discussed as themes of the novel.  Remember, you can identify different themes through different actions of character in the novel.  This means that through different characters, different themes may emerge.  For example, the predicament of Jim can reveal thematic elements and the predicament of Huck can reveal other thematic elements.