The Adventures of Tom Sawyer | Social Concerns
As in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the characters in Tom Sawyer exhibit attitudes typical of the mid-nineteenth century. The stereotypical villain, Injun Joe, derives from the frontier figure of the violent and vengeful Native American, and black Americans are derivative of slave stereotypes. These elements should be recognized both for their negative connotations and their historical significance. Twain's realistic representation of his characters' attitudes should not be mistaken for his own attitude. The controversy surrounding The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has produced...
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